Celebrating 85 Years
Founded in 1931, Universal Builders Supply, Inc. (UBS) has worked on some of the country’s most recognizable and treasured structures. Each generation of this three-generational company has had a pet project to be proud of, starting with the Empire State Building, one of the few construction jobs in New York City during the Depression, to Yankee Stadium, the Washington Monument, and the Statue of Liberty. To celebrate it’s 85th year in 2016, UBS posted 85 Fun Facts about some of the most iconic and historic building projects. Here they are:
Post 81: One Wall Street, NYC
One Wall Street (originally the Irving Trust Co. Building, then the Bank of NY Building after 1988, and the BNY Mellon Building since 2007), is an Art-Deco-style skyscraper in Manhattan’s Financial District on the corner of Wall Street and Broadway. Until September 30, 2015, it served as the global headquarters of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. In May 2014, it was announced that the corporation had agreed to sell its headquarters tower to a joint venture led by Harry B. Macklowe’s Macklowe Properties to be converted to 524 apartments. UBS provided overhead protection and three hoists for this project.
Post 82: 50 West Street, NYC
50 West Street is located in the Financial District at the southern tip of Manhattan. The tower of curved glass faces south to panoramic views of New York Harbor, Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. A total of 3,000 panels of glass were installed, each pane weighing up to 1,900 pounds. Five hundred of the panes are curved and no other building has used curved glass in such volume, according to German architect Helmut Jahn. The building topped out in September 2015 at 66 floors. UBS provided two dual hoists to access this new addition to the Manhattan skyline.
Post 83: 29 Flatbush Ave (66 Rockwell Place), Brooklyn, NY
After sitting for years as a vacant parking lot, 29 Flatbush Avenue began a new life as a 42-story residential tower. Renamed 66 Rockwell Place, the Dermot Co. rental building broke ground in early 2011 and topped out in 2013. Located in the culturally rich BAM district, residents can walk to the Opera House, Barclays Center, the BRIC Theatre, BAM Fisher Theater, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Mark Morris Dance Center, the Polonsky Shakespeare Center, and Theatre for a New Audience. There are 326 units in the building, with 20% designated as affordable housing. UBS provided hoisting and perimeter protection for this residential tower in the heart of Brooklyn.
Post 84: Safety Never Takes a Day Off
Safety never takes a day off, especially high in the sky atop some of the tallest buildings in the world. UBS is committed to providing a safe environment for its workers, the workers on construction and restoration projects, and the general public through the cooperation of all its employees. To that end, UBS employees are trained and educated on safe work practices on a continual basis. Safety has and always will remain our number one priority.
Post 85: A Salute to our Old and Current Crews!
A company doesn’t get to be 85 years old without a reliable crew so for our final 85th Anniversary post, we’d like to salute all our employees, both active and retired, who have participated in making this company what it is today. We thank each and every one of you for your focus and devotion to the task at hand. Because of you all, UBS has sealed its reputation for excellence as a leader in the construction industry.