Sciame is a construction-magnate-turned-developer best known for attempting to build Santiago Calatrava's radically-designed 80 South Street.

The son of a union painter, Brooklyn-bred Sciame studied architecture at City College; after realizing he wasn't going to be the next Richard Meier, he established his own construction company. F.J. Sciame Construction Co. really put itself on the map in 1980 when it completed a high-profile gutting and renovation of Sotheby's headquarters on York Avenue. Sciame has since styled himself as an "enlightened builder," taking on construction projects with sterling architectural pedigrees. His work has included a restoration of the Central Synagogue (designed by Hugh Hardy), an expansion of New York City's Harvard Club (designed by Max Bond), and the construction of the much-ballyhooed New Museum (designed by the Japanese firm Sanaa). In 1996, following years of constructing other developers' projects—and watching those developers rake in profits—he started a real estate firm of his own, Sciame Development, Inc. So far, Sciame Development's activities have been confined to the once grimy South Street Seaport area. [Image via Getty]