Celebrating New Milestones
- socialoutputmarket
- May 1
- 5 min read
Summer’s coming fast, with it, a fresh wave of momentum across our active projects. From final walkthroughs to groundbreaking transitions, our projects take shape and progress toward monumental victories. This month also shifts our focus to sustainability action and ways our projects can create a lasting and measurable environmental impact.
This month also highlights Construction Safety Week—a critical initiative across our industry that emphasizes the importance of proactive safety measures and continuous improvement to protect every person involved in our work. We commend the Baxter team for their unwavering dedication to safety, turning procedures into everyday actions that protect our colleagues and communities.
PROGRESS IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AND BEYOND
HIGHLAND PASSIVE HOUSE | A STUNNING VICTORY IN SUSTAINABILITY
Cathy Hobbs, a former Emmy Award–winning television news reporter turned top New York City–based real estate stager and interior designer, collaborated with Michael Ingui, a New York City–based architect, on a monumental achievement for the Hudson Valley and the country. The recently completed Highland Passive House—home to Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes—is officially the first multi-use warehouse in North America designed by the Passive House Institute standards.
Highland Passive House is unlike anything of its kind. Designed with advanced panelized construction and powered by a photovoltaic system, it stands as a rare achievement in meeting Passive House, Net Zero, and Carbon Neutral standards. The 9,000-square-foot warehouse features 20-foot-high perimeter walls topped with 11-foot-tall trusses spanning an impressive 67 feet. This structural approach enables a column-free interior, maximizing open, adaptable space that will serve as a warehouse for home staging materials, offices, and more for Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes.
This project was made possible by a Carbon Neutral Communities Economic Development (CNCED) grant of approximately $1.3 million to help finance construction. The CNCED program supports projects that aim to achieve carbon-neutral or net-zero energy performance in both new and existing buildings, prioritizing those with significant regional impact.
Highland Passive House combines cutting-edge sustainability with uncompromising design. Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes brings together luxury staging, bespoke styling, and on-location video production to deliver a cohesive storytelling experience. The result is a vibrant, expressive interior that reflects Hobbs’ creative vision and influence in shaping modern design.
Architect: Ingui Architecture
Civil Engineer: Praetorius and Conrad, P.C.
MEP Engineer: RJD Engineering
Passive House Consultant: Building-Type, LLC
READ MORE
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WEEK 2025
PLAN | OWN | COMMIT
In our field, safety is a collective commitment—not just a list of procedures, but a culture of accountability and empowerment for all. Everyone on the site, from tradespeople to executives, is responsible for recognizing and addressing risks. Each year, Construction Safety Week calls on our industry to lead, educate, and reinforce a culture of safety excellence.
At Baxter, safety is at the heart of everything we do. From daily check-ins and jobsite protocols to strategic safety integrations at both the project and organizational levels, we believe safety must be proactive, continuous, and deeply embedded in our culture. We empower every team member to speak up, take action, and support one another in making safe choices—because true safety leadership begins with individual commitment and grows through collective responsibility.
By participating in Construction Safety Week, we reaffirm our dedication to protecting our people, partners, and communities. Safety is not just about compliance—it’s about care, vigilance, and the shared belief that everyone deserves to go home safe at the end of each day.
STRATEGIES IN PLACE
To ensure safety on every project, we implement site-specific safety plans, daily safety checklists, and comprehensive employee orientations for all team members working onsite.
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
One of the strategies we're working to implement is the use of wireless alarm and monitoring systems from Tattletale to continuously monitor conditions on the job site. We remain committed to researching and adopting new innovations that will protect both our people and our clients' property.
PLAN
It all begins with the schedule. A well-thought-out plan sets the foundation for a successful project, which is why we take the time to proactively map out upcoming activities. This early planning allows us to coordinate resources, manage timelines, and build in the flexibility needed to adapt when things don’t go as expected. By identifying potential challenges before they arise, we can respond with proactive, safety-centered strategies that protect our teams and minimize disruptions. Whether it's adjusting for weather delays, shifting priorities, or addressing site-specific risks, thoughtful planning ensures that we stay safe, efficient, and on track—both on and off the job site. This level of preparedness allows us to move forward with confidence, knowing we’ve done the work to anticipate and navigate obstacles before they impact progress.
OWN
We engage those closest to the work in shaping how it’s done, encouraging accountability and collaboration around safe, effective execution. By involving team members in the planning and decision-making process, we tap into their firsthand knowledge and experience, which often leads to smarter solutions and fewer safety risks. This approach not only improves outcomes but also builds a sense of ownership and pride in the work, reinforcing our shared commitment to doing the job right—and doing it safely.
COMMIT
We don’t move forward with any project unless we’re sure it’s safe to do so. If, at any point, conditions change and safety is at risk, we take immediate action to stop work and make the necessary adjustments. We believe in regularly checking our progress to stay on top of things, which allows us to make smart adjustments along the way. This approach helps us learn from every project, so we can ensure that each one is safer and more efficient than the last.
Our commitment is to make safety the foundation of everything we do. We uphold this by empowering our team to take pride in their work and ownership of every task. For us, safety means caring for people in the present and ensuring that our sites remain safe for years to come.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
STAYING AHEAD OF TARIFF IMPACTS
WITH FORWARD-THINKING CONSTRUCTION
With the potential for new tariffs on key construction materials like steel, aluminum, and lumber, the industry is bracing for possible cost increases and supply chain disruptions. These challenges have the potential to impact budgets and timelines—but at Baxter, we’re taking a proactive approach to keep our projects running smoothly.
Here’s how we’re staying ahead:
Locking in Costs Early: We secure materials as early as possible to help protect projects from sudden price hikes.
Leveraging Our Supplier Network: Strong relationships with our suppliers give us greater flexibility to negotiate competitive pricing and ensure dependable delivery.
Smart Substitutions: We explore alternative materials that meet our quality standards while offering more price stability in a volatile market.
Agile Scheduling: By building flexibility into our timelines, we can adjust to shifting market conditions without compromising project delivery.
“Tariffs can be unpredictable, but our commitment to careful planning isn’t,” says Pat Moore, Director of Construction at Baxter. “We’re focused on keeping projects on time and on budget, no matter the market conditions.”
At Baxter, we don’t just respond to market pressures—we anticipate them. Our proactive mindset allows us to deliver consistent quality while protecting our clients’ investments in a constantly changing economic environment.
CONTACT
Patrick Moore
11 Garden Street | Suite 101
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
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Here’s to building more together!
