DBIA 2025 National Board Chair Thomas J. Foley, PE, CCM, DBIA, has been named Senior Vice President for Facilities, Core Real Estate Development, Planning, Design, Construction and Engineering at the Mount Sinai Health System. Foley assumed the role on September 15.
In his new position, Foley leads planning, design, construction and engineering efforts across Mount Sinai’s health system. His responsibilities include overseeing major campus redevelopment initiatives, managing space and real estate assets, advancing sustainability and infrastructure priorities, and guiding long-range capital planning aligned with Mount Sinai’s systemwide goals.
Among the most significant efforts under Foley’s leadership will be a multi-decade redevelopment of The Mount Sinai Hospital campus. The work will balance the evolving needs of research and education with inpatient and ambulatory care while addressing access, circulation, parking, wayfinding and broader campus functionality.
Foley brings more than 25 years of experience leading complex public infrastructure and building programs. He most recently served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC), a role he held from 2021 until joining Mount Sinai. As commissioner, Foley led an organization of more than 1,200 professionals and managed a $33 billion capital portfolio. He also oversaw implementation of DDC’s Strategic Blueprint, which set agencywide expectations for quality, accountability and innovation in the city’s construction projects.
During his tenure at DDC, Foley played a central role in expanding the city’s use of design-build delivery. Under his leadership, the agency increased its deployment of design-build as a way to improve collaboration, accelerate schedules and strengthen accountability across complex public projects. He championed design-build as a disciplined delivery method that helps teams manage risk, improve outcomes and deliver lasting public value.
Projects delivered under this method during Foley’s tenure include the Queens Borough Hall Municipal Garage and Community Space and the Orchard Beach Maintenance and Operations Building, both of which earned DBIA National Awards for their innovative use of design-build in complex civic settings. The Orchard Beach project was the city’s first design-build project under the 2019 Public Works Investment Act, helping launch New York City’s modern design-build program and catalyzing a broader shift in public procurement. As a result, DDC established a dedicated Design-Build Unit, sponsored DBIA certification for more than 150 staff members, and expanded training across partner agencies, laying the groundwork for long-term adoption and success.
Over the course of his three-decade career with New York City, Foley worked across a wide range of project types, including cultural institutions, libraries, health and human services facilities, public safety infrastructure, and major civil works such as the vertical shafts for the city’s third water tunnel. Foley also helped lead the agency’s response to some of the city’s most challenging moments, including the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
A licensed Professional Engineer, Foley holds certifications as a DBIA® professional and a Certified Construction Manager. His honors include the 2024 Public Sector Leadership Award from the National Hispanic Business Group and the 2024 Public Official of the Year Award from the Subcontractor Trade Association. Foley has been a member of the National Academy of Construction since 2021.
DBIA congratulates Tom Foley on this next chapter of his career and thanks him for his continued leadership and service to the design-build community.
