History

With perhaps the world’s most complex, most effective infrastructure, New York City represents great achievements that were possible because of vision, planning and commitment to flawless execution on a massive scale. The city pulses every day with over 8 million people riding the subway, 800,000 vehicles entering and exiting, 1.3 billion gallons of water coursing through 6,000 miles of plumbing and 50 million megawatts snapping through the power grid. The waterways of all five boroughs hum with commerce under skies populated with planes from three major airports against a background of cars, trucks and trains thundering over bridges and through tunnels.

However, New York’s place as the world’s greatest city was not always assured. By the turn of the last century, growth had stagnated. Streets were congested with horse-drawn passenger and freight vehicles; water utilization was so poor that the affluent often fled the city to avoid outbreaks of disease including yellow fever and plague. A complete infrastructure vision and implementation was required for the city’s vitality. The General Contractors Association was formed in 1909, when a group of construction companies banded together to help government agencies and private industry build for sustainable growth.

Members of the General Contractors Association of New York have been responsible for the creation, overhaul or maintenance of the heavy construction infrastructure that keeps the city running. The contractors have played an integral role in the city’s evolution and have been fundamental framers of the blueprint of New York City.

Centennial Video

This video was first presented as an introduction to the 98th Annual GCA Dinner in December 2006, and provides a preview of the GCA's 100th anniversary to be celebrated in 2009.

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