CH Insurance moves to a bigger space inside the Atrium building in Syracuse

SYRACUSE — CH Insurance has moved to a new 7,500-square-foot space inside the Atrium at 2 Clinton Square in Syracuse, alleviating a space crunch and giving it a more visible home.

The insurance agency had previously operated in a 4,200-square-foot space in Axa Tower I at 100 Madison St. in Syracuse.

CH Insurance was in that location since 1999, says Joseph (Joe) Convertino, Sr., CEO of CH Insurance.

“We knew we needed more space,” he adds. The firm has 30 full-time employees.

It added two employees with its Feb. 1 acquisition of Hanley & Associates, a group-benefits firm whose owner, Thomas Hanley, died in May 2016.

At the same time, Convertino said his firm has a “new vision” and felt it was “time to make a move.”

“This was in an area where we thought we’d have visibility,” he adds.

CH Insurance looked at eight locations in Syracuse and surrounding areas before deciding on its move to the Atrium, says Joseph (Joe) Convertino, Jr., president of CH Insurance.

“We ultimately feel CH Insurance belongs downtown,” says the younger Convertino, explaining why the agency didn’t move outside the city.

The Convertinos declined to disclose the cost to move to the new location. Both men spoke with CNYBJ on April 12.

Ed Rogers, senior VP of JF Real Estate, which owns the Atrium, brokered the lease deal.

Joe Convertino, Jr. says he has a working relationship with JF Real Estate, as his firm insures “some of their buildings.” He also knows John Funiciello, president of JF Real Estate, “very well.”

“Whenever we saw him, even years ago, [Funiciello had always] thought we’d be in this building someday and here we are,” says Convertino, Jr.

Zausmer-Frisch, Scruton & Aggarwal, a Syracuse–based building and design firm, served as the contractor on the interior build-out. Gerald Ferro was the architect on the space design.

In preparing the space for business, crews knocked down the majority of the walls, says Convertino, Sr.

The space includes five offices for the firm’s executive-management team and the remaining space for employees features “an open look.”

“That’s what we envisioned and that’s what we told the architect [that] we wanted,” says the elder Convertino.

The firm will have signs bearing its name on the front and back of the Atrium, says Convertino, Jr.

He also contends the new office will provide the agency with “great exposure” at the annual downtown events that attract crowds to Clinton Square.

“It’s a good place to be,” he notes.