SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It’s a move that represents a new chapter for a local design-build firm — and new life for a building in a part of downtown Syracuse with plenty of history. 

VIP Structures Inc. has started operations in its new headquarters in The Post, the former home of the Post-Standard and Herald-Journal newspapers at 101 N. Salina St. in Syracuse. It’s located across from Clinton Square, an area that once included the waters of the Erie Canal.

“This day and this event has been a long time coming,” Meg Tidd, CEO of VIP Structures, said to open her remarks during the March 29 formal-opening event. “We have a lot to celebrate, not just the opening of our space but also the beginning of a new chapter for VIP.” 

VIP employees began working in the new space in late February, Maria Romeo Livingston, chief marketing and business-development officer, tells CNYBJ in an email.

VIP Structures is a design-build firm, combining architecture, engineering, construction, and real-estate development under one roof. For decades, that roof was the firm’s five-story building at 1 Webster’s Landing in Syracuse, but VIP said it had reached its capacity limit and had to make a change. 

“Each of the major components of our business and our shared services had their own floor, creating physical barriers to integration and resources. So, we’re very excited about this move and get to be on the same floor while staying in the city we love,” Tidd said. 

The project’s first phase — which includes VIP, three other tenants, and their shared common areas — cost about $15 million and covers 84,000 square feet, VIP tells CNYBJ.

Besides VIP Structures, Chase Design is also a tenant in the building. VIP has worked with Chase Design, which has been a VIP tenant in Skaneateles. NBT Bank also says it is planning to move its Central New York regional headquarters to The Post building later this year.

VIP Structures anticipates one more phase of work on the project. 

The second phase of renovation work at The Post will involve the development of about 120,000 square feet of light industrial space left vacant by the Post-Standard printing operations, Mike Durkin, VIP’s VP of client relations, tells CNYBJ in an email. VIP is currently seeking tenants for that space.

In his remarks at the formal-opening event, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh told the gathering how he uses his participation in the annual St. Patrick’s Parade as an informal metric for measuring progress in the downtown area. When he thinks about two projects along the route that VIP has handled — The Post and the Pike Block project — Walsh said no one can accuse the company of “picking the low-hanging fruit.”

“These are incredibly challenging projects but again you took them on head on and we are a better community for it,” Walsh said. 

Dave Nutting founded VIP Structures in 1975 and served as CEO until 2021. He started the firm as a recently graduated architect from Wellesley, Massachusetts “without much in the way of funding or influence,” Tidd noted in her remarks.

Nutting launched his business in Syracuse and built the firm from that point on. “So, when he had an opportunity many years later as an owner to restore the Post-Standard building, he and fellow owner Charlie Wallace [president of development] jumped in feet first,” Tidd added.