Zair Cheema

Expert in steering complex projects from inception through design, pre-construction, and compliance, consistently exceeding business objectives and delivering exceptional quality across all functions. A seasoned Real Estate Director with a proven track record of leading high-profile projects for some of the nation’s most prestigious clients, including Morgan Stanley, Port Authority, National Park Service, Transportation Security Administration, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Yale University, Children’s National Medical Center, D.C. Hospital for Special Surgery, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Travis Air Force Base, Starbucks, Target, and the Javits Convention Center.

Possessing extensive experience in project leadership, compliance, design, and pre-construction strategy, Cheema leverages his strong industry relationships and insights to align stakeholders, cultivate talent, and drive revenue growth through innovative and challenging projects. His expertise extends to program management, building infrastructure, construction processes, project peer review, budgeting, quoting, assessments, project strategy development, project delivery, structural methodologies, team alignment (both internal and external), and identifying funding opportunities. He  has proven ability to build and scale departments to enhance profit and organizational capabilities.

Zair Cheema is a distinguished professional in project and cost management, with a specialization in mechanical engineering, particularly in the domains of building HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, energy systems, and sustainability. Zair’s expertise encompasses value engineering, procurement and tendering strategies, real estate budgeting, due diligence, gap analysis, feasibility analysis, project valuation, and project scheduling. He is adept at contract development and management, establishing and overseeing project schedules and budgets, and delivering pre-construction services, including bid administration, legal document production, contract negotiations, contractor payment approvals, shop drawing and submittal reviews, and resolving constructability issues while serving as a technical leader for clients.

Zair’s proficiency in energy audits, energy monitoring, visualization, and building operations has enabled him to provide clients with strategic solutions to their most complex challenges, particularly concerning building MEP systems. As a design engineer, his responsibilities included assessing building mechanical systems, selecting new equipment, designing HVAC, plumbing, and sprinkler systems, preparing project specifications and drawings, conducting building code research, performing field surveys, and producing detailed reports. His role also involved attending DOB meetings and Board meetings to represent client interests. Earlier in his career, Zair served as an owner’s advisor, focusing on assessing existing conditions and systems to help clients define and strategize future stages of capital project life cycles and improvements.

Zair Cheema holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from New York University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Urban Systems within the Civil and Urban Engineering Department at NYU Tandon.