STV’s Connecticut program management and construction management (PM/CM) team served as the owner’s project manager (OPM) for the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) project, which earned first place in the Small Civic category and was named Project Team of the Year at the Connecticut Building Congress’ (CBC) 2026 Project Team Awards.
For more than 35 years, the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen has served as a vital resource in the New Haven community. Its new home at 266 State Street brings DESK’s services together under one roof in a renovated three-story drop-in and resource center designed to support access to services in a more seamless and dignified way. The facility includes a welcoming intake area, industrial kitchen, medical suite, shower and laundry facilities and a resource center with case management offices.
“DESK plays a vital role in addressing the needs of the unhoused in New Haven. Bringing these services together in a single, purpose-built space allows them to operate in a way that is more accessible and responsive to those they serve,” said Geralyn Hoerauf, senior project manager at STV. “That outcome – and the alignment required to achieve it – is what makes this recognition meaningful.”
STV supported the project from preconstruction through occupancy, directing project delivery, managing funding requirements and aligning stakeholders around a shared vision for a centralized service hub.
Bringing food access, healthcare and social services into a single location required the team to navigate competing priorities – including historic preservation constraints, healthcare-specific facility requirements and the operational needs of a vulnerable population – while maintaining alignment across stakeholders.
Presented annually by the CBC, the awards recognize projects that demonstrate strong collaboration among owners, designers, engineers and builders.
“This project required a high level of coordination across partners with different priorities – from historic preservation to healthcare delivery,” said Vinny Salines, senior project manager at STV. “That alignment made it possible to deliver a facility that supports both day-to-day operations and long-term service delivery.”
STV was part of a broader project team that included FCA Architects (formerly Svigals), PAC Group and several additional partners.
This project reflects the role PM/CM can play in delivering civic facilities that respond to complex social needs while aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared outcome. In December, STV’s Connecticut team was named Firm of the Year by the Connecticut Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America, further reflecting the group’s leadership in delivering complex, community-focused programs.
“This recognition reflects a team that stayed aligned through a complex delivery process,” said Mark DuPre, vice president and area manager for PM/CM Connecticut at STV. “It’s especially meaningful because of the impact this facility will have in New Haven – supporting essential services today while strengthening how they’re delivered over time.”
