SMARTBRIEFRESEARCHMEDIA SMARTBRIEF Subscribe here for free Top Story Federal, state elected officials question Gowanus plan September 15, 2021 Two elected officials -- US Rep. Nydia Velazquez and State Assembly member Jo Anne Simon -- want the Gowanus rezoning plan in Brooklyn halted because of "inconsistencies and contradictions" with the environmental review. The changes, which have the approval of Mayor Bill de Blasio, would allow taller residential buildings in the mostly industrial area. Brownstoner (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (9/13) VIEW ARTICLE Project Focus EarthCam shows 20 years of World Trade Center rebuild September 15, 2021 A new EarthCam time-lapse video reveals the 20-year rebuild of New York City's World Trade Center site, beginning with rescue and recovery. The project began days after the 2001 attacks, with one camera positioned to document the rescue mission. For Construction Pros (9/10) VIEW ARTICLE Project Focus Residents wary of potential gentrification in Inwood September 15, 2021 Changes may be coming to the Inwood neighborhood in north Manhattan following a court order allowing far-reaching rezoning. Critics fear gentrification, pointing to Hudson Yards as an example, with one resident saying, "The last thing I want to see is a Pottery Barn or Bed Bath & Beyond up here." The New York Times (9/10) VIEW ARTICLE Project Focus Warehouse demolished to make way for housing in Queens September 15, 2021 The demolition of a warehouse on the waterfront in Long Island City is clearing the way for residential towers of 39 and 34 stories to be developed by TF Cornerstone. Plans have been filed, but the company hasn't said when the projects will begin. Sunnyside Post (Queens, N.Y.) (9/14) VIEW ARTICLE Innovation & Technology What to expect from construction estimate software September 15, 2021 More than 4 in 10 contractors who recently acquired new estimating software say one of the chief benefits is improved accuracy, according to a Software Advice survey. Collin Couey examines what this type of software is and how it uses automated cost estimating to eliminate calculation errors. Software Advice (9/13) VIEW ARTICLE Innovation & Technology What if a robot could read your crew's minds? September 15, 2021 Penn State researchers have designed a proof-of-concept system that allows construction robots to read workers' minds and act accordingly with 82% accuracy. Workers wear devices that transmit the brain's electrical activity to a cloud server, where the brainwaves are decoded and sent to the robot's motion planner to prompt an action. ASME (9/14) VIEW ARTICLE Policy Watch Biden vaccine mandate includes big firms, federal workers September 15, 2021 President Joe Biden has announced vaccine requirements for federal employees, large businesses and health care workers that could apply to up to 100 million Americans in total. Biden's plan calls for companies with at least 100 employees to ensure that workers are vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 every week. CNN (9/9) VIEW ARTICLE Policy Watch NYC halts work at 1,499 sites over construction safety September 15, 2021 New York City's Department of Buildings has ordered a halt to work at 1,499 construction sites after inspections revealed more than 3,600 safety violations. The inspection drive started three months ago and has included visits to about 7,500 sites, says Buildings Commissioner Melanie La Rocca. Engineering News-Record (tiered subscription model) (9/14) VIEW ARTICLE Carpenters & Contractors in the News Join Construction Skills for its 20th Anniversary Building Futures Awards Breakfast on Sept. 22 September 15, 2021 Join us on Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the 20th Anniversary Building Futures Awards Breakfast to support opportunity and diversity in the New York City Building and Construction Trades. Proceeds benefit the nationally recognized Construction Skills program that provides unparalleled access to union apprenticeships, offering upward career mobility, family healthcare and retirement security. Honorees include Joseph Geiger, executive secretary-treasurer, New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters. Visit here to register for this great event. Visit here for sponsorship opportunities. VIEW ARTICLE CCA Metro News Union carpenters and contractors - trained for safety and infection control in healthcare facilities September 15, 2021 Healthcare construction, whether it involves renovations to occupied spaces or the development of new facilities, presents unique challenges and risks. Union carpenters and contractors are dedicated to partnering with healthcare professionals to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. Our Infection Control Risk Assessment training program sets the industry standard. ICRA training is highly recommended for employees of contractors performing healthcare construction as well as professionals in facilities management, construction planning & design, maintenance, infection prevention, nursing, life safety, regulatory compliance and more. Click here to learn about this critical training. VIEW ARTICLE Top Story Only 2 major projects unfinished in 9/11 area September 8, 2021 Twenty years after 9/11, two major projects at the Lower Manhattan site remain unfinished -- a second tower plus a residential building on the old Deutsche Bank site. "The strategy of creating a mixed-use neighborhood has taken hold," says Carl Weisbrod, who is on the board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Daily News (New York) (tiered subscription model) (9/6) VIEW ARTICLE Project Focus TF Cornerstone tops outer-borough loan list for July September 8, 2021 TF Cornerstone's $337.3 million loan from Wells Fargo for a mixed-use project in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn led the July list of outer-borough loans compiled by The Real Deal. Cumulatively, the 10 largest loans were down from June but up from year-ago figures, which were depressed by the pandemic. The Real Deal (9/7) VIEW ARTICLE VIEW SMARTBRIEF ARCHIVES RESEARCH Research PAYROLL FRAUD IN NEW YORK’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: ESTIMATING ITS PREVALENCE, SEVERITY AND ECONOMIC COSTS Research by the Institute for Construction Economic Research (ICERES) finds that payroll and tax fraud costs New Yorkers more than $1 billion annually. Cheating contractors gain a $13,500-15,000 cost advantage per worker over law-abiding contractors and workers paid off-the-books or misclassified as independent contractors are robbed of $9,000-10,000 annually. VIEW ARTICLE Research The Limited Record of the Associated Builders and Contractors in New York City Metropolitan Region Construction, MWBE Development, and Workforce Training According to a new report by Rochester Research Associates, the upstate-based Associated Builders and Contractors Empire State Chapter has few contractors, MWBEs and training programs in the NYC metro area, which calls into question its qualifications on policy concerns in NYC construction. With the need to address major issues such as mass transit infrastructure, MWBEs, and safety training, it is important that those with actual experience and expertise in NYC construction lead the discussion. VIEW ARTICLE Research New York’s Prevailing Wage Law - A cost-benefit analysis The Economic Policy Institute’s analysis of peer-reviewed research shows how prevailing wage laws (1) promote cost-effective quality and safety on taxpayer-funded construction projects, (2) stimulate economic growth and higher tax revenue, and (3) reduce poverty and reliance on public healthcare and assistance programs. VIEW ARTICLE Research Healthy City: Inside New York City's Hospital Building Boom New York City's large hospital systems are making major capital investments not only to modernize their facilities but to transform how they deliver healthcare. This New York Building Congress report details how they are an important factor in NYC's construction and overall economy. VIEW ARTICLE Research The Economic, Fiscal, and Social Effects of Ohio’s Prevailing Wage Law 76% of peer-reviewed economic research shows that prevailing wages do not increase public construction costs. Here is more research from Ohio that reaches the same conclusion. VIEW ARTICLE Research Union Construction workers diversify NYC union construction has become significantly more racially diverse in the past two decades. LEARN MORE MEDIA Media Union Carpenters and Contractors - Essential to Building New York's Best The New York City District Council of Carpenters and union contractors have responded to COVID-19 in our industry and local communities. We're committed to building an even better future. See how we adopted new safety standards and provided critical training to keep essential projects moving forward. Visit here to see some of the outstanding work accomplished throughout these challenging times. WATCH THE VIDEO Media BUILDING NEW YORK'S BEST - PRIORITIZING SAFETY Union carpenters and contractors in New York provide ongoing safety training and enforce safety standards on the job. That means safer workers, and a safer city for all of us. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Spotlight on Union Carpenters and MWBE Contractors Infinity Contracting is a union MWBE affiliated with the NYC District Council of Carpenters and the Building Contractors Association. This project is built through a DASNY PLA with 100% union labor. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Hoisting and Scaffolding Take a look at this short video highlighting the contractors of the Hoisting and Scaffolding Trade Association – HASTA – and the Timbermen of Local Union 1556. Together, they build, erect and dismantle material and personnel hoists, scaffolding, sidewalk bridges and more on NYC’s most challenging construction projects. WATCH THE VIDEO Media ICSC New York Deal Making Expo at the Javits Center The ICSC New York Deal Making Expo is the largest retail real estate event on the East Coast, welcoming over 10,000 attendees and 530 vendors to the three-day event! See how union carpenters from the New York City District Council of Carpenters and union contractors played a critical role in bringing the expo to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Dockbuilders, Pile Drivers, & Marine Divers Above ground, under ground, and even under water, union dockbuilders, pile drivers, marine divers, and the contractors that employ them bring strong foundations to structures throughout New York’s skyline, infrastructure, and waterways. Check out this short video highlighting the union training and skills that are crucial to both a project’s success and the safety of workers. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Architectural Woodwork and Cabinetry Take a look at this video that highlights how cabinetmakers and woodworkers of Local Union 2790 and contractors that employ them bring superior skill and artistry to commercial, residential, institutional and retail interiors. They fabricate and install both decorative and functional elements of design specifications including trim and molding, cabinetry, ceiling treatments, doors, windows, exposed columns and beams, displays, mantels, and staircases. WATCH THE VIDEO Media LU 740 Millwrights at the New York Proton Therapy Center The New York City Proton Therapy Center will be the first and only specialized treatment facility in the state of New York. Learn how members of Millwright Local Union 740 are working with Bay Crane and Varian Medical Systems to go above and beyond in Building New York’s Best! WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Resilient Floor Covering Union floor covering carpenters and contractors are trained to meet the specifications of your project and the flooring product’s manufacturer. Because every flooring project should be installed with Quality and Performance to Stand On. Union carpenters and contractors are Building New York’s Best! WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Interior Systems, Wall & Ceiling carpenters and contractors Union carpenters performed 10 million hours of work last year for interior systems and wall-ceiling contractors in New York City, bringing the highest quality to new building interiors and renovations for commercial, residential and institutional projects. These skilled professionals engage in general carpentry, gypsum drywall, acoustical ceilings, framing, finish carpentry, furniture installation, and more. Union carpenters and contractors are Building New York’s Best! WATCH THE VIDEO Media Union Carpenters and Contractors Are Building New York’s Best Take a look at this short video highlighting union carpenters and contractors who are building the best in residential, institutional, commercial, transportation and infrastructure. Build with Quality. Build with Safety. Build with Confidence. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Reinforced Concrete Superstructures Take a look at this short video introducing you to Local Union 212 and their affiliated contractors who build concrete superstructures. In the last five years, they have completed more than 50 million square feet of cast in place reinforced concrete superstructures. Their intensive knowledge of formwork systems allows for the most cost-effective construction on the market. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best Trade Shows, Conventions and Exhibitions Take a look at this short video introducing you to union trade show carpenters and contractors. These skilled professionals erect prefabricated exhibits and build custom exhibits for trade shows at the Javits Center, area hotels and other venues. They engage in floor layout, pipe and drape work, carpeting, booth maintenance, and rigging of signs for exhibits. The Javits Center is the busiest convention center in the U.S. It hosts 175+ events a year and generates $2 billion of economic activity. Union trade show carpenters and contractors make it possible. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Millwright and Machinery Erectors Call on millwrights from Local Union 740 and their contractors to deliver precision and productivity to every job. Put the best millwrights in New York to work on your next project. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Transportation Infrastructure for the 21st Century Meet some of the union carpenters and contractors who are rebuilding the Kosciuszko Bridge and LaGuardia Airport. They have the training, skill, and experience to work safely and deliver the highest quality on projects bringing our transportation infrastructure into the 21st century. WATCH THE VIDEO Media Building New York's Best - Starts with Training The Carpenters Training Center is jointly sponsored by union carpenters and contractors to provide members with the training needed to bring the highest level of skill and safety to projects throughout the New York City metropolitan area. WATCH THE VIDEO VIEW MEDIA ARCHIVES