HUNTER KING · Project Manager

What advice do you have for engineers who just graduated college?
Ask questions. Everyone has to learn, and it starts with a question. What may seem like an embarrassing question, becomes a moment to educate yourself so that the question may never have to be asked again.

What is something you value in the work you do?
In the life sciences division, we build cutting-edge facilities for research, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing companies. These companies are creating medicines to aid and potentially cure all types of diseases and cancers. I take pride and value that my hard work can result in helping others around the world.

A proud moment that comes to mind:
One of my proudest moments in life was earning my chemical engineering degree while working full-time at Buch. Buch was very supportive to hire me full-time and accommodate my work schedule so I could complete my one remaining class. Although it was a busy period, through hard work and determination, I successfully advanced my career and graduated college simultaneously.

Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today? Who are some of your inspirations within the company?
One of the Buch team members connected me and since then the company’s atmosphere and family culture have inspired me to pursue a career in construction. I have the pleasure of working with inspiring individuals, such as Jeff Williford, Vice President, Life Sciences. He became a Vice President early in his career, which shows Buch’s confidence and trust in Jeff’s ability to lead and mentor. Brian Dribben, one of Buch’s Senior Project Managers, is also an inspiration. He is one of the smartest individuals I have ever encountered as he can efficiently analyze new drawings and situations and understand what steps to take next. I also have the pleasure of working with exceptional superintendents Andy Dunn and Warren Hall. Andy has an incredible work ethic and truly does anything to help the Buch team. Warren is regarded as one of the most respected and knowledgeable superintendents within the company and has been with Buch for 30 years. He embodies The Buch Way through his commitment to construction and constant learning.

You are one of the youngest Project Managers at Buch, how were you able to reach that goal less than 5 years out of college?
Leadership at Buch has been instrumental in my growth as a project manager. I owe a great deal of credit to my VP, Jeff Williford, and Senior Project Managers for placing me in opportunities that led to success, assigning challenging tasks for learning, and offering guidance when needed. Thanks to the support and guidance of Buch’s leaders, I have made significant progress in honing my project management skills.

If you weren’t at Buch what would your dream job be?
If I wasn’t working at Buch, I would be a college basketball analyst. I love college basketball and enjoy numbers. I think it would suit me well!

If you could have any superpower what would it be?
If I could have any superpower it would be teleportation. I hate traffic and long drives after a vacation or weekend getaway.

Favorite concert you’ve been to?
I recently went to a Luke Combs concert at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC with my girlfriend Holly. It was the largest venue and best event I have ever attended.

Reigning Cornhole Champion together with Graham King.

Buch’s Annual Cornhole Tournament 

On July 20th, Buch celebrated its 7th annual cornhole tournament! This tradition is a highly anticipated one at Buch and is a blend of fun summer activity and friendly competition – a total of 40 Buch team members formed 20 teams to compete. After several rounds of intense play, brother duo Graham and Hunter King took home first place. Graham returned to defend his status as reigning cornhole champion, and Hunter reclaimed his championship title from 2021. They were joined on the podium by the second-place team Nic Flickinger and Ryan Dougherty, and the third-place intern duo Owen and Kevin. It was a day filled with laughter, teamwork, and good times at Buch HQ!

Howard County Foodbank Drive 

At Buch Construction, we believe in giving back to our community and making a positive impact in the lives of those around us. This summer marked our fifth annual Howard County Foodbank drive. Year after year, this initiative has become a cornerstone of our commitment to helping our local community combat food insecurity. A special thank you to the Buch estimating team for spearheading this drive every summer and collecting over 600 pounds in donations!

JDRF Real Estate Games

Buch is proud to have been participating in the JDRF Real Estate Games for over 10 years. JDRF, also known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was founded in 1970 with the mission of ending Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). It is currently the leading global organization funding T1D research, and that is in part due to its creative fundraising events such as the JDRF Real Estate Games. The games, which were founded by industry leaders Adam Singer and Rick Kimball in 1990, are an opportunity to raise money for a life-saving charity, while also giving participants the chance to have fun and engage in some friendly competition. 

Our team competed in several events, such as the lacrosse and fastball challenges, volleyball and tug-of-war events. The volleyball tournament is where most shined. Whether it was the team cheering on the sidelines or Autumn Wickstrom’s impressive serving skills, the Buch team made sure that we put up a good fight. Chase Hilliard placed second in the fastball challenge, and Michael Altmann earned first place in the lacrosse challenge!

The JDRF Real Estate Games was a great opportunity to not only have fun and raise funds for an important issue but also a fun day out of the office! Competition is often fun, but it is made all the more special when competing for a cause such as T1D!

We are moving up – literally! 

We are excited to announce that our New York office has moved! We are staying in the same great location, just steps from Penn Station, but relocating to the 29th floor to accommodate our growing Northeast team. 

Our family in New York is a critical part of the company and we have been excited to see their team grow over the years. We welcome you to come by and meet our team – please contact us to schedule a visit!

Please note our new address:

Buch, Northeast
450 7th Ave | Suite 2901
New York, NY 10123

Welcome to Buch HQ! 

We are thrilled to announce the opening of Buch’s brand-new headquarters. At Buch, we believe that our success is rooted in the talent and expertise of our team. Our new headquarters provides an inspiring environment where our employees can thrive, collaborate, and continue to go beyond what’s expected.

Check out our article on Bisnow, where we delve into the details of our new home, the construction process, and the vision behind Buch HQ. Together, let us continue to build a brighter future filled with remarkable projects, lasting relationships, and unparalleled success. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

Click here to read more!

Inspiring Construction Careers at Arlington Baptist School

Buch is committed to inspiring the next generation. With endless career choices in front of them, it is crucial for young minds to explore their passions and dream big. Recently, Arlington Baptist School hosted a Career Week, inviting professionals from various fields to inspire and educate their students. Among them was our Project Manager, Christy Cooper. Her expertise in project management and enthusiasm for the construction industry captivated Ms. Wards’ third-grade class, enlightening students about the numerous construction career opportunities available to them in their futures.

Christy goes Beyond What’s Expected 

As Christy entered the classroom, she was greeted by a room full of eager students. With bags of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for each student, a trifold, some carpet samples in hand, and her own experiences to share, Christy began her educational presentation to ignite their imaginations. She introduced Buch’s company values, highlighting Buch’s core focus on safety, by showcasing each piece of equipment in their PPE bags. As the students put on their protective eyewear, safety vests, and hard hats, Christy engaged the kids in an interactive discussion explaining the purpose of each PPE item.

Christy shared her responsibilities and daily routine with the class as they passed samples of carpet, paint, and tiles around the classroom. The students were enamored with the interactive props as they flooded Christy with questions regarding construction. Christy made sure to answer every question with genuine interest, which inspired even more curiosity in the students. She encouraged them to believe in themselves and emphasized that with dedication and hard work, they could achieve anything they set their minds to.

 A New Generation of Builders

At the conclusion of Christy’s presentation, the students had a new-found interest in construction as they all began measuring various items in the classroom with their new tape measurers. By connecting with the third graders on a personal level and offering a glimpse into the world of construction, Christy paved the way for a generation of aspiring builders, architects, and engineers. At Buch, we believe the possibilities are endless when we inspire the next generation.

AKANKSHA VARMA · Project Manager

What does “Beyond What’s Expected” mean to you?

Beyond what’s expected means that you put your best foot forward every day. For me in my role in marketing, I try to put the client at the center of every decision. I want to learn what is important to them and try to find synergies to provide the best possible service to elevate their experience. Small things make the biggest difference!

Give us a brief summary of what your career has been like at Buch.

My career has evolved in the past few years at Buch. Being a smaller team in NY, I have had the opportunity to wear many hats. While I started as a Project Manager, my role soon evolved into Business Development & Marketing which was needed to grow our presence in the Northeast. It has been an exciting shift and my prior experience in the field and with clients helps me bring a unique perspective to business development.

Tell us how your educational background/experience helps you in your role.

My background in architecture and graphic design helps me understand the design intent for the spaces we build. It enables me to execute paying close attention to the details without compromising the integrity of the design. My experience in planning retail environments has given me an owner’s perspective of the business and that each project is driven by cross functional teams, each with their unique agenda but all working towards a common goal. My approach with these projects is to facilitate timely, clear and targeted communication with all key stakeholders to ensure that we are able to pivot swiftly when necessary.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on in the Northeast region?

The Industrious office in SoHo was exciting because it was a new customer and a new business sector for our team. It was interesting to learn about the product and their business and cater our workflow to meet their needs. This is a relationship we continue to foster and we were recently nominated to be their preferred GC in the Northeast region.

What is the motivation behind what you do? 

I am motivated to make an impact within our industry. I would like to grow our presence in the Northeast and beyond. I am energized by the support of our team and strive to embody our values and to deliver valuable solutions to our clients.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career? 

The most valuable lesson I learned is to build and nurture relationships as they serve you well through the ups and downs of your career. The key to relationships is being a good listener, building trust and as a result securing advocacy and sponsorship of mentors. Relationships are two way, and you have to do your part and lean in to make your partners successful, going above and beyond what’s expected. Trusted advisors provide strong support, help you navigate through tricky situations, and remove obstacles that impede work and enable your success.

How did you get introduced to the construction industry?

In my role at Macy’s Store Design & Planning and after years of working with general contractors in building Macy’s store environments, I developed an interest in understanding the construction process. When I was approached to work in construction, it provided an exciting opportunity to learn the other half of the business and to be more hands on.

Do you have any artistic talents that no one knows about? 

I don’t know if I have artistic talents, but I think I am creative. I am inspired by creativity and enjoy the visual and spatial arts. This brought me to pursuing a career in architectural design. I am trained in graphic design, and I especially love printmaking.

If you could be a celebrity for one day, what would you do? 

I would use my celebrity to raise awareness about the Autism Spectrum Disorder and supporting people with disabilities and their families. And space travel. 😊

Can you share a funny personal or work-related anecdote?

I am embarrassed to admit that I once forgot to attend our office holiday party that I helped plan. Needless to say, that I’ll never live this down!

On Saturday, April 28th, Buch celebrated national rebuilding day. Every year we proudly partner with Rebuilding Together Howard County who are committed to improving the lives of the elderly, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and families with children; all homeowners in Howard County who have worked hard, but can no longer afford to keep up with repairs.

Shoutout to Buch’s Rebuilding Together crew for your efforts towards making this project a success! Special thanks to Zach Facchina for leading the charge!

DANNY FACCHINA · Director, Florida

As the Director of Florida, briefly summarize your time serving that region.
While pursuing our work down in Florida, I have developed strong relationships with subcontractors and vendors, which has allowed Buch to serve our many national clients in the Florida market. With a long history and reputation up in the Mid-Atlantic, we have longstanding relationships with many subcontractors; however, down in Florida many of these relationships are in their infancy. Continuing to develop these connections in the region will be very important to the overall success of the operation. It has been an exciting time being a small part of the company’s overall growth since I have been down here, and I look forward to continuing moving forward in the region!

What do you like the most about your job?
I really enjoy the personal interactions with everyone from our clients to subcontractors to superintendents to field foreman. We deal with so many different people from different backgrounds, which makes every day exciting.

What is your main professional goal in the coming years?
My main professional goal in the coming years is to continue to learn all that I can while working alongside my team so that we can continue to grow and contribute to success of the company.

What skills and talents do you have that help you perform your work efficiently?
I feel I communicate timely and effectively, which keeps all stakeholders in the project informed and keeps the projects moving forward.

Tell us about the most important project you have worked on the Southeast region? 
We have completed several projects down here with Macy’s, including their Fulfillment Centers, Minimum Standards projects, and a Starbucks Fit Out at their Florida Mall location. These have been especially exciting projects because Macy’s has been Buch’s first ever client since we were founded in 1984.

Why is pursuing a career in the construction field important?
Construction signifies growth. When a business invests money into a construction project it shows they are intent on continued development and not content with the status quo.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?
The most valuable lesson I have learned is the importance of timely communication between clients and design teams to keep a project moving forward. Inevitably, there will be problems that arise in construction and jumping on them quickly mitigates their impact and minimizes schedule delays and cost changes.

What does “Beyond What’s Expected” mean to you?
Beyond What’s Expected means to use all resources at our disposal to produce a top-quality product for our clients on time and without any surprises. It means maintaining an open line of communication amongst all stakeholders to properly, and timely address the inevitable situations that arise in the construction industry.

What is the next item in your bucket list that you plan to accomplish?
Ride a mule down the Grand Canyon

What is your favorite hobby?
I enjoy getting frustrated on a golf course.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation. There are so many places and people to see. Although the journey is great, I prefer the destination.