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Commercial Corner: Bentley Zhao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, New Empire Corp.
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Bentley Zhao is the chairman and CEO of New Empire Corp., a New York City-based development and construction management firm. Since becoming CEO in 2004, Zhao has overseen the completion of over 120 New Empire Corp. projects, including condominiums, hotels and mixed-use properties, adding over 2,000 units to its portfolio.
Under Zhao’s leadership, New Empire handles every aspect of real estate development – from property sourcing to unit marketing – ensuring efficient, high-quality results. With a background in architecture from CUNY New York City College of Technology, Zhao is dedicated to delivering innovative designs and value.
Zhao is also a committed community leader, with a focus on education and sustainable city initiatives. He serves on the board of directors for Sing Tao Daily USA, is an honorary professor at Huali College, and founded the Asian Commercial Real Estate Association to promote housing attainability and diversity in real estate leadership.
During the pandemic, Zhao made significant contributions to local hospitals and charities, earning recognition from the America-China Hotel Association.
He has been honored with numerous awards, including Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business and recognition as an Outstanding Business Leader by the New York State Assembly.
How long have you been in the business?
I’ve been in the business for 29 years.
What brought you into the business?
It started as a family business, but what truly drew me in was my passion for architecture and design, combined with a strong interest in finance and investment. Real estate sits at the intersection of all three.
Who influences you?
My father has been my greatest influence. He worked incredibly hard building a business in a foreign country, and his resilience, discipline and long-term mindset shaped how I approach both life and business.
There’s always a need for residential development in Brooklyn and Queens, but it isn’t easy. How are these projects getting done?
A successful project requires careful planning, strong execution and vertical integration. Having control over development, construction, design and capital allows us to manage risk and move efficiently in complex urban environments.
What areas are the busiest or most in demand?
Transit-oriented neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens remain the most active – areas with strong transportation access, growing job centers and evolving communities continue to see the highest demand.
In fact, within the past four years, Long Island City has seen about a 20% increase in demand. Location-wise, it’s only one stop away from the middle of Manhattan.
Our Long Island City condo development, Radiant, offers buyers the luxury of Manhattan living at a lower price. Another up-and-coming Queens neighborhood with major potential is Sunnyside/Woodside, where our condo development, Centric, will offer residents unparalleled amenities and Manhattan skyline views.
Given today’s constraints and costs, are these still good investments?
Yes, but only if approached with discipline. You need realistic underwriting, efficient construction and a long-term view. Well-located residential assets in New York still offer strong fundamentals when executed properly.
What trends are you seeing?
Expectations are higher, and buildings must offer more than just square footage. Residents are placing much greater emphasis on thoughtful design, high-quality common spaces, work-from-home flexibility, wellness and entertainment areas, smart-home technology and customized interiors.
What keeps you up at night?
Managing risk – whether it’s construction costs, interest rates or market timing – and making sure every project delivers long-term value for residents, investors and the surrounding community.
