GrowingTogetherJuly2017

July 2017 Update Growing Together Monthly Newsletter for Columbia University’s Manhattanville in West Harlem Development C olumbia’s long-term plan for the old Manhattanville manufacturing area will revitalize the four former industrial blocks from 125th/129th to 133rd Street between Broadway and 12th Avenue, and three small blocks along the east side of Broadway from 131st to 134th Street, into an environmentally sustainable and publicly accessible center for academic and civic life woven into the fabric of the West Harlem community. Project Scope The initial phase of development will include the Jerome L. Greene Science Center, the Lenfest Center for the Arts, a new home for the Columbia Business School, and the University Forum. Later phases will emphasize interdisciplinary scholarship, including biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, systems biology, and urban and population studies, as well as housing for graduate students and faculty. Current Construction Activity Jerome L. Greene Science Center Ongoing testing, balancing, and commissioning of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are nearing completion. Furniture installations are substantially complete. Greene Science Center, is nearing completion. Upcoming work will include completion of remaining pavers, permanent irrigation, and Woodland Walk. Phase 1 Emergency Generator Project Furnish and install emergency generator plant on the roof of the Studebaker building to provide emergency power to the Manhattanville campus. Automatic transfer switch commissioning at the Central Energy Plant/Jerome L. Greene Science Center is substantially complete. Operations training is ongoing. Did You Know? Lenfest Center for the Arts HVAC system and elevator testing and commissioning underway. Security and audio/visual systems punch list in progress. The Forum Precast panels erection. Roughing for mechanical, electrical and plumbing in the street-level space. Masonry walls installation at the below-grade level Phase 2 Foundations The support of excavation (SOE) contractor is currently performing the following activities; mass excavation, installation of temporary tieback anchors along the north wall (beneath the Studebaker building) and construction of concrete cap beam (on top of existing slurry wall). The dewatering system is in operation. Foundation minipiles are currently underway. Central Energy Plant (CEP) Third-party inspection of fire alarm devices is completed. Required FDNY testing of merged fire alarm devices is ongoing. Boiler testing equipment setup and testing is ongoing. Training for systems is ongoing. Mechanical system commissioning testing is ongoing. Small Square The first phase of Manhattanville’s open space project, which lies north of W129th Street, south of Lenfest, and west of the Jerome L. July 2017 Update Page 1 of 4 Students and mentors from Columbia University’s Manhattanville Development Group pose with their project model and certificate following their presentation as part of the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentorship Program. Columbia University’s Manhattanville Development Group and its team of professional services partners participated in the ACE Mentor program for the eighth year, mentoring a group of high school students. At an event in late May, the team presented their simulated project – a recreational facility designed to enhance physical education and provide motivation to stay fit and healthy. The Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentorship program provides students with real-world exposure and access to the architecture, construction and engineering industries much earlier in their lives than they would typically have the opportunity. (Over) What to Expect Although contractors carefully stage construction activities to minimize disruption to the surrounding community, the nature of construction work is such that some disruptions will occur. The community should expect the following in the coming months:  Regular work hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm Monday through Friday  Weekend work may be performed.  Closure of certain traffic lanes, parking lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks, including:  No standing on West 125th Street between Broadway and West 129th Street.  There is a no parking zone in effect on the west side of Broadway from West 125th to 129th Streets.  Broadway sidewalk is open from West 129th to West 130th Street. The Broadway parking lane is a no parking zone.  West 131st Street between Broadway and 12th Ave is closed and will remain closed until early 2019.  West 130th Street between Broadway and 12th Ave is a no standing or parking zone.  West 129th Street between Broadway and West 125th Street is closed until the end of the year. Community Amenities and Benefits To access the Columbia University’s Community Services Website, please visit: manhattanville.columbia.edu then click “Community” in the navigation menu. Minority, Women, and Local Businesses and Workforce MWL construction workforce delivered 1,341,442 hours worked, representing 50 percent of the total workforce hours for the construction of the new Manhattanville campus. 243,108 hours of that figure were performed by the local workforce. Jobs and Opportunities As the project progresses, we expect additional opportunities for people with a wide range of skills and experience in the coming years. We are working with our construction partners Skanska USA/the Velez Organization (for the Forum) and Lendlease (for Phase 2 foundations/below-grade) to assist those interested in employment with construction firms currently working at Columbia. For more information, please visit the Manhattanville Employment Opportunities page at manhattanville.columbia.edu/jobsopportunities. Additional Information This newsletter and our weekly construction updates (which contain more specific information about construction impacts) will be available on the web at manhattanville.columbia.edu and at various locations at the project site and throughout the Manhattanville area. Please note that construction activities are subject to change based on field conditions. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone who is temporarily inconvenienced by these projects. Should you have questions about construction activity, call the Columbia Facilities Services Center at (212) 854-2222, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or e-mail [email protected]. For more project information, to view upcoming bid opportunities, and to sign-up for our e-mail updates visit manhattanville.columbia.edu. Columbia has made a significant commitment to the minority, women, and local (MWL) construction contracting and workforce community throughout the course of the project: MWL construction trade contracting goal of 35 percent and MWL construction trade workforce goal of 40 percent. Working with construction contractors Neighboring construction projects not related to and the building trades, Columbia is working to enhance the role Columbia MWL firms and workers play in building the new campus. All figures  New York City Economic Development Corporation's West 125th Street Streetscape Improvement Project, please contact represent non-specialty construction services and related materials. Patrick Jordan at 917-439-4630 or [email protected]. Construction Contracting In the first quarter 2017 (January 1 to March 31), Columbia paid $22,616,290 to MWL firms, representing 53 percent of total construction spend. $16,818,617 of that figure was paid to local companies.  New York City Department of Transportation’s Protective Coating of the Riverside Drive Viaduct from St. Clair Place to 135th St., please contact Community Liaison Hugh Smith at 917-434-1385 or via e-mail at [email protected] Cumulatively from August 1, 2008, through March 31, 2017, Columbia paid $170,026,810 to MWL firms, representing 37 percent of total construction spend, excluding the amount paid to the construction manager. $66,076,242 of that figure was paid to local companies. Construction Workforce In the first quarter 2017 (January 1 to March 31), the MWL construction workforce delivered 13,197 hours worked, representing 49 percent of the total workforce hours for the construction of the new Manhattanville campus. 1,744 hours of that figure were performed by the local workforce. Cumulatively from August 1, 2008, through March 31, 2017, the July 2017 Update Page 2 of 4 (Over) Community News Columbia Career Expo Opens Doors for Locals to New, Diverse Job Opportunities In conjunction with Congressmember Adriano Espaillat, Columbia University hosted a Career Expo on June 19 at Riverbank State Park that drew a turnout of more than 460 job seekers and nearly 60 participating organizations. Some employers in attendance are local large business partners, such as Whole Foods Market Harlem and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Others are small local businesses like Hudson Moving & Storage and Sudsy Water Laundry & Dry Cleaning. Those smaller companies are participants of CU Grow Leadership Development Program for vendors, part of Columbia’s multidimensional approach to assisting minority-, women- and locallyowned (MWL) firms whose goal is to expand their existing portfolio of business and contracts with large clients. It includes coaching for firm leadership, which is designed to support the participants’ executive decision-making and strategic thinking on how best to manage and grow of their companies. Four CU Grow program vendors participated in the Career Expo. “It was fulfilling to see some of our program participants give back at another of our community initiatives, provide employment opportunities to our neighbors, and truly bring Columbia’s efforts full circle,” said Radhy Miranda, program director for CU Grow and an assistant director at Facilities and Operations Also represented at the Career Expo were construction firms building the new Manhattanville campus—Skanska USA Building Inc., the Hundreds of job seekers flocked to Riverbank State Park on Monday, Velez Organization, and LendLease—as well as June 19 to take part in Columbia University’s Career Expo, hosted in organizations offering free or subsidized training opportunities for job seekers. collaboration with U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Participants met with hiring managers from nearly 60 organizations, attended job preparedness trainings, learned how to apply for jobs with Columbia's employment website, and networked with local businesses. “This is a long-held commitment to the community, and we plan to hold some type of career event annually for many years to come,” said Tanya Pope, assistant vice president for University Supplier Diversity and Business Integration at Columbia University Facilities and Operations. “The June 19 Expo was the 10th career event Columbia has hosted, and we’ve participated in at least 23 others.” According to Christine Salto, assistant director for compliance at Facilities and Operations, the Career Expo was a success, not only for the 462 job seekers who attended but for Columbia and the 58 other organizations who participated. “Everyone who came to the Expo looking for jobs had access to information on open positions, trainings, and workshops they could attend to prepare themselves for the job market,” Salto said. “Columbia was able to deliver on our commitment to engage in events that support the growth of the local community, and vendors were able to see hundreds of job seekers in one day, which lowers their recruitment costs.” Five divisions at Columbia were represented at the fair, including Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and Teachers College. Other participating organizations included security firms, city government, construction management firms, and other higher education institutions like New York University (NYU) and Lehman College. Espaillat, whose congressional district comprises upper Manhattan and a portion of the West Bronx, attended the event, where he greeted businesses and those looking for work. “My goal is to work to ensure all residents who are willing and able to work have an opportunity to find employment and can achieve success for themselves and for their families,” he said. “This career expo presented us with an opportunity to connect local companies and recruiters with local talent seeking employment in our current jobs market.” La-Verna Fountain, vice president for Strategic Communications and Construction Business Initiatives at Facilities and Operations, emphasized the importance of the Columbia Employment Information Center’s involvement in the event. "Our goal has always been to bring together a diversity of firms that could support people at every level of their career path,” Fountain said. “It was essential to have our Columbia Employment Information Center there to provide training throughout the day for those in need of guidance.” Since 2004, the center has operated in West Harlem as a source of information and an access point that makes Columbia job applications more accessible to the local community. The center also provides enhanced training programs and job-search counseling services designed to strengthen not only the individual applicant, but also the community. “The combination of information and contacts available to the nearly 500 people who attended helped to make the entire day a success," Fountain said. “Originally, the goal was to make sure we were very transparent in showcasing the jobs available at Columbia, particularly with the new Manhattanville campus,” Pope said. “Now other organizations have asked to participate, which provides even more opportunities for job seekers.” (Over) July 2017 Update Page 3 of 4 Construction Progress Images Phase 2 foundations site, looking east The Lenfest Center of the Arts (left) and Jerome L. Greene Science Center (right), with the Small Square in the foreground, looking northeast The Forum site, looking east Sustainable Partnerships Aerial view looking northeast LEED ND Stage 1 Platinum Certified Plan July 2017 Update Page 4 of 4