Bentley Zhao, Chairman and CEO of New Empire Corp. 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 sour

Top 10 projects total $918M, down from $1.4B in 2024 Shlomi Avdoo of Avdoo, Abraham Leifer of Aview and Bentley Zhao of New Empire Corp (Getty, LinkedIn, Avdoo, Aview, New Empire Corp) New development in New York City’s outer boroughs fell into a lull in 2025.  Elevated interest rates and high land prices have made ground-up development more difficult to pencil out, and Brooklyn and Queens saw scaled-back condo filings in response.  The total unit count of the 10 priciest de

By: Michael Young and Matt Pruznick 8:00 am on January 9, 2026 Foundations are underway at 757 Flatbush Avenue, the site of an eight-story residential building in Flatbush , Brooklyn. Designed by Morali Architecture and developed by New Empire Corp., the 82-foot-tall structure will span 140,000 square feet and yield 131 units. The project will also include ground-floor retail space with 125 feet of frontage. The 40,000-square-foot interior lot is located between Clarkson Ave

While the exterior of Radiant makes a bold architectural statement, the interiors offer a serene counterpoint. Our collaboration with the award-winning Paris Forino  has resulted in a material palette that balances high-contrast geometry with soft, organic warmth. The Culinary Canvas The kitchens at Radiant serve as the heart of the home, featuring a signature soft-blue glass tile backsplash that reflects the light of the East River. Paired with custom light-oak cabinetry an

Long Island City has long been a hub of industrial grit and modern glass, but Radiant  marks a shift toward something more sculptural. Designed by the world-renowned firm ODA , led by Eran Chen, Radiant isn’t just another glass tower—it is a study in dimension. The "More Corners" Philosophy Why settle for a standard box when you can have more? ODA’s design for Radiant focuses on creating a "living facade." By introducing more corners and staggered dimensions, the building of