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80 years of service to New York City and
the construction industry
In
April 1921, twenty-five architects, engineers, contractors and "labor
men" met in the office of world-renowned architect Robert D.
Kohn. These men were concerned that the building and construction
industry was disorganized. They left that meeting with the goal
of creating an organization of owners, bankers, architects, engineers,
contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, suppliers and labor
representatives. In the words of Mr. Kohn: "We started out
with the idea that the only hope for effective improvement in the
industry was to render through cooperation of all of its elements
some measure of service which the public had the right to demand
of us. Out of this meeting was born the New York Building
Congress.
Throughout its illustrious history, the Building Congress has served
as a forum for issues that affect all segments of the building community.
In forging dedicated alliances to discuss and act upon a common
agenda, the Building Congress has drawn upon the talents of the
best and the brightest in the industry.
From the depths of the Great Depression, and periods of preparing
for and enduring war, to the building booms of the 1960s and
late 1990s, the Building Congress has focused its energies
on the issues of the day while helping to keep the industry, government
and all New Yorkers focused on the future.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Building Congress is
the constancy of its mission.The very principles upon which the
organization was founded are as relevant today as they were 80 years
ago. Within a diverse industry, the Building Congress continues
to be looked upon as a place where leaders from all sectors can
analyze issues of common interest and, when appropriate, act as
one. As such, the Building Congress remains a major voice of the
industry, and its advice on a range of topics is sought by public
officials and agency leaders.
Since
its founding, the Building Congress has served as a productive forum
for those entrusted with building New York City. Over the years,
the Building Congress has attracted such notable public officials
as former President Gerald R. Ford; Senators Baker, DAmato,
Moynihan and Schumer; Mayors Lindsay, Wagner, Beame, Koch, Dinkins
and Giuliani; and Governors Carey, Rockefeller and Pataki. The business
and labor community also has been well represented, including such
luminaries as David Rockefeller, Harry Van Arsdale and Donald Trump.
While its founders would not have recognized the term, "networking"
has been another constant for the Building Congress throughout its
existence. The Annual Golf and Tennis Outing, established in 1930,
remains a tradition in which industry leaders, colleagues and friends
relax for a day of sun, fun and recreation. Another traditional
social event was the Fun & Frolic Show, first produced in December,
1938. While the show is no longer part of the Building Congress
calendar, it has been replaced by two major annual events
the Anniversary Leadership Awards Luncheon and Industry Recognition
Dinner which, combined, attract more than 2,000 people each
year and always honor industry champions.
As the content of this annual report attests, the Building Congress
remains an industry-directed organization. Its committees, task
forces and events are designed to involve all sectors of the building
community in the creation of an agenda that addresses common interests
and concerns.
Thanks in large part to the women and men of the design, construction
and real estate professions, New York City has grown by leaps and
bounds over the past 80 years. So too has the building community.
This growth and the challenges it presents, combined with the modernization
and globalization of the industry, serves only to intensify the
need for a devoted and active congress of architects, engineers,
skilled labor, contractors, real estate managers and other professionals.
The Building Congress remains committed to its role as a conduit
for all sectors of the industry and looks forward to many successful
and productive years ahead.
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