121: Building a Destination with Tony Nigro, Tuscan Village Salem

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Mar 5, 2025

Tony Nigro, Senior VP of Design and Construction at Tuscan Village, shares his insights from over 30 years of experience in shaping vibrant communities. He discusses the transformation of Salem, NH, from an empty area into a multifaceted destination. Tony emphasizes the importance of qualitative experiences over mere financial gains and the value of leadership and teamwork in construction. With anecdotes from his military service, he highlights the role of collaboration and alignment in driving successful projects.

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ANECDOTE

Rapid City Development

Tuscan Village, a city-like development in Salem, NH, was built in just four years.
Four years prior, the site was an empty area with just infrastructure being developed.

INSIGHT

Visionary Master Plan

Tuscan Village's master plan emphasizes a live-work-play environment, drawing inspiration from successful developments across the country.
Joe Faro, the visionary behind Tuscan Village, prioritizes qualitative experiences over immediate profits.

ANECDOTE

Prioritizing Vision

Joe Faro prioritizes building what he loves, sometimes requiring significant changes mid-construction.
He once ordered a facade's removal despite its completion, prioritizing his vision over deadlines and costs.

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Tony Nigro is the Senior Vice President of Design and Construction at Tuscan Village in Salem, New Hampshire. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Tony has been an instrumental figure in the development of Tuscan Village—a significant project turning a once empty area into a vibrant city-like environment. Prior to his current role, Tony garnered substantial expertise at companies like William A. Berry and Suffolk Construction, working on large-scale projects such as the Boston Convention Center.

In this episode, Tony shares his experience and lessons learned under the mentorship of Joe Faro, the visionary principal behind Tuscan Brands. From understanding the importance of balancing qualitative experiences with quantitative results to ensuring quality control and thoughtful design, Tony brings to the forefront the essential elements of innovative development.

Key Takeaways:

Visionary Development: The creation of Tuscan Village reflects a commitment to excellence and community, transforming an empty space into a vibrant, multifunctional environment.
Balancing Quality: Joe Faro's approach to development emphasizes qualitative impacts over immediate quantitative gains, resulting in a more engaging and sustainable community.
Leadership and Teamwork: Tony Nigro draws on his extensive experience, including his military background, to highlight the importance of alignment, trust, and collaborative problem-solving in construction projects.
Quality Assurance: Successful projects like those Tony has led at Suffolk Construction and Mill Creek necessitate robust QA/QC programs that set clear standards and processes.
Career Evolution: Tony's journey across different sectors displays his adaptability and commitment to growth, reinforcing the value of pursuing new challenges and opportunities.

Notable Quotes:

"For him, his famous saying that I've learned painfully over and over is that he is incapable of building something that he doesn't love."
"It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit."
"What Joe Faro looked at and took his version of the best from all of those."
"You have to cut that waste out before you become a fan of Lean."
"Sometimes when you convince yourself that you can walk on water, every once in a while you kind of do."

Resources:

Tuscan Village: Tuscan Village Website
Suffolk Construction: Suffolk Construction Website
Good to Great by Jim Collins: A book that inspired Tony's leadership style.

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