THE COMMERCIAL OBSERVER | DECEMBER 11, 2012 | 37
The daughter of David Lewis, the Russian-born Canadian pol-itician who helped launch the New Democratic Party, Nina Libeskind’s earliest exposure to politics came at age six.
But political campaigns most-ly took a backseat starting in 1969, when she married world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, with whom she has shared her life and career ever since.
Still, even in her current po-sition, in which she oversees management, financial and ad-ministrative matters at her husband’s studio, Ms. Libeskind’s political and social engagement continues to play an important part in her work.
“I believe that once you work in architecture, you do it in a world that is public,” Ms. Libeskind told The Commercial Observer last week from China, where she is
on a book tour with her husband. “The discussion should be about the public space, how the public views the building and how the building impacts the public.”
Her time overseas is hardly unusual, given that the couple spends half of the year flying around the world, managing about 50 commissions at a time and working out of offices in New York, Zurich and Milan.
“We have a symbiotic relation-ship,” she said, adding that they still have “a tremendous amount of fun.”
Her political passion and be-liefs have played a role in projects such as the Jewish Museum in Berlin, which she described as near to her heart.
“On the other [side] of the coin,” she said, was the Military History Museum in Dresden, on which she negotiated closely with the German military.
“I think that with politics comes an ethical idea of the world that Daniel I share,” she said referring to her work. “Part is po-litical, part is ethical and part is fun.” —Alessia Pirolo
Laurie GrassoHunton & Williams LLP
PartnerYear joined: 2012
Recognized in New York Super Lawyers, Legal 500, Real Estate
Forum’s 35 under 35 and Real Estate New York’s Women of Influence.
Rachel HarariFirst New York Partners
Management, Senior Vice President; Senior Counsel
Year joined: 2005In charge of Forest City Ratner’s
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania operating portfolios.
Marcella GriggCBRE
First Vice PresidentYear joined: 2009
Serves as the cross border invest-ment advisor for CBRE.
Desiree HarbacekCBRE
Senior Financial AnalystYear joined: 2006
Researched 685 Third Avenue, 1 New York Plaza and 123 William
Street.
Deborah GutoffEastern Consolidated
Senior DirectorYear joined: 1986
Over $1 billion in sales completed, focusing on bulk packages of un-sold co-ops/condos, multifamily
apartments and student housing.
Patricia HarrisZetlin & De Chiara LLP
Managing PartnerYear joined: 2000
Board member of and alliance coordinator for Global Design
Alliance.
Lauren HayesCushman & Wakefield
Senior Associate, Strategic Agency ServicesYear joined: 2010
Clients include Morgan Stanley, Jamestown Properties/MHP and
JLL Investment Management.
Linda HeaneyFriedman LLP
PartnerYear joined: 1976
Founding member of the New York City chapter of the American
Woman’s Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Maureen HeneganHenegan Construction Co. Inc.
Chair and CEOYear joined: 1986
Founded the largest woman-owned construction company.
Caroline HanniganMassey Knakal Realty Services
Senior AssociateYear joined: 2010
Completed over $400 million in transactions within two years.
Sarah HawkinsHines
AssociateYear joined: 2011
Currently managing 7 Bryant Park.
Annette HealeySPQREA
Executive Vice PresidentYear joined: 2000
Focuses on tenant repre-sentation, with a number of
institutional, apparel and jewelry retail tenants.
Melissa HeinStudley
Asociate DirectorYear joined: 2005
Oversees a portfolio of around 2.3 million square feet.
Ellen HermanJones Lang LaSalle
Executive Vice PresidentYear joined: 2008
Clients include NAACP LDF, New Alternatives for Children and the American Medical Association.
Nina Libeskind, Studio Daniel Libeskind.Chief Operating Officer
