Construction of New University Housing Building Focuses on Local Hiring

June 14, 2021

Columbia University is seeking to tap into the local workforce for its latest construction project at 600 W. 125th Street, a new University housing building intended for Columbia graduate students and faculty members.

Working in partnership with construction manager Pavarini McGovern and Crescent Consulting, the University is identifying construction employment opportunities for local residents, as well as minorities and women, with construction experience and OSHA 40 certification. Positions will become available in a variety of trades during several phases of the project. 

The first phase of construction positions is currently available. The trades with open positions include plumbing, electrical, fire protection, foundation, and HVAC.  A virtual information session will be held on June 14 at 4 p.m. via Zoom to provide more details on the available positions and requirements needed to qualify. Additional information sessions for future project phases will be forthcoming.

Pavarini McGovern is working with schools, churches, NYC Housing Authority communities, and employment supporters across Harlem to inform local residents of these employment opportunities.

Columbia will also offer free OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification classes to local residents who apply but do not have the necessary OSHA certification requirements. Applicants who complete these classes and have construction experience will be encouraged to apply for future opportunities on the project as they become available.

Columbia has a long-held commitment of working with minority, women and local (MWL) businesses and prioritizing the employment of a qualified, diverse, and local workforce, consistently setting ambitious employment and contracting goals. For this project, Columbia has set MWL construction goals that at least 35 percent of all construction dollars be spent with MWL-owned firms and at least 40 percent of the labor force made up of MWL construction workers for the duration of the project.

The new 34-story residential building for Columbia faculty and graduate students at 600 W. 125th Street will be comprised of approximately 177,000 square feet and include 142 apartments and 5,000 square feet of retail space on the ground level, which will be occupied by returning lessee, McDonald’s. Construction is expected to be completed in 2023.

Local residents interested in available construction work at the 600 W. 125th Street project can visit Crescent Consulting for information session details and applications.