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Oliver Buchannon
Brendan Spiegel

Brendan Spiegel is a writer, editor and entrepreneur with 20+ years working in the field as a journalist and launching media initiatives across news, politics, advocacy and human interest journalism. A longtime freelance reporter for The New York Times, Brendan got his start in journalism as a reporter and editor at Congressional Quarterly and has written feature articles for The Washington Post, Wired, and many other publications. He is the Editorial Director and Co-Founder of Narratively, an award-winning media platform and production company whose flagship editorial publication has been named one of TIME’s 50 Best Websites and Columbia Journalism Review’s “best experiments in journalism." Brendan has also led editorial collaborations with nonprofit partners including the Vera Institute of Justice, National Forest Foundation and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

New York Hit Pause on Big Data Centers. Here's What It Means for Construction.

Aug 5, 2026

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3 min read

New York Hit Pause on Big Data Centers. Here's What It Means for Construction.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's temporary moratorium has sparked concerns that billions of dollars in investment could shift to neighboring states. Here's what the executive order does—and what it could mean for New York's construction industry.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Industry Safety Organization Extends Its Reach to Address Opioids

Jul 29, 2026

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4 min read

Industry Safety Organization Extends Its Reach to Address Opioids

The NYC Building & Construction Industry Safety Fund is giving construction workers the knowledge and resources to save lives.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
"I Worked Hard. I Just Wanted to Be Paid Fairly."

Jul 15, 2026

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3 min read

"I Worked Hard. I Just Wanted to Be Paid Fairly."

One carpenter's experience sheds light on the labor practices that leave workers vulnerable to exploitation across much of New York City's construction industry.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
She Never Thought Construction Was an Option. Now She's Building New York.

Jul 8, 2026

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2 min read

She Never Thought Construction Was an Option. Now She's Building New York.

After discovering a pre-apprenticeship program during the pandemic, Bronx native Shtira Daniels found more than a new career—she found the financial stability, purpose, and community that has transformed her family's future.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Manhattan's Office Rebound Is Fueling Demand for High-End Construction

Jul 1, 2026

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3 min read

Manhattan's Office Rebound Is Fueling Demand for High-End Construction

As companies seek amenity-rich workplaces, a new generation of technically complex office projects is creating opportunities for New York's contractors and skilled labor.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
A New Approach to Workers' Compensation Is Saving Time and Money—and Helping Workers Recover Faster

Jun 24, 2026

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3 min read

A New Approach to Workers' Compensation Is Saving Time and Money—and Helping Workers Recover Faster

A growing number of major construction projects are using Alternative Dispute Resolution to provide faster medical care for workers while reducing costs for owners and contractors.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
At NYCDCC's Apprentice Graduation, New York's Next Generation of Carpenters Take Center Stage

Jun 17, 2026

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3 min read

At NYCDCC's Apprentice Graduation, New York's Next Generation of Carpenters Take Center Stage

A select group of Golden Hammer winners earned top honors, but the waterfront celebration was ultimately about something larger: welcoming 133 newly graduated union tradespeople into New York City's construction workforce.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
4 Things for the NYC Construction Industry to Know About the NY State Budget

Jun 10, 2026

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3 min read

4 Things for the NYC Construction Industry to Know About the NY State Budget

From major infrastructure investments to faster approvals, here's what the state's newly approved budget could mean for the construction pipeline in NYC.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
The Work You See Last: The Contractors Who Bring New York’s Buildings Across the Finish Line

Jun 3, 2026

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3 min read

The Work You See Last: The Contractors Who Bring New York’s Buildings Across the Finish Line

They help bring some of New York’s most complex projects across the finish line—but few people understand the work, skill, and coordination required to bring the spaces people use every day to life.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Building the Stadium New York Soccer Fans Have Waited For

May 27, 2026

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3 min read

Building the Stadium New York Soccer Fans Have Waited For

As World Cup excitement builds in NYC, union carpenters and contractors are helping create Etihad Park, a 25,000-seat stadium, in Queens.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Inside JFK’s Massive New Terminal One, Union Carpenters and Contractors Pause to Celebrate What They’re Building

May 20, 2026

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2 min read

Inside JFK’s Massive New Terminal One, Union Carpenters and Contractors Pause to Celebrate What They’re Building

The new terminal—part of the Port Authority’s $19 billion JFK overhaul—is designed to rival the world’s top international airports.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
The Divers Keeping New York Strong—Below the Waterline

May 13, 2026

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4 min read

The Divers Keeping New York Strong—Below the Waterline

All along the city’s waterways, union divers and contractors build, repair and reinforce the infrastructure that keeps New York running.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
The Future of Construction Is Taking Shape in this Lower Manhattan Hidden Gem

May 6, 2026

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3 min read

The Future of Construction Is Taking Shape in this Lower Manhattan Hidden Gem

Inside the training center preparing New York City’s next generation of union carpenters—and the workforce contractors rely on.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Union Built: Inside Brooklyn’s New Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center

Apr 29, 2026

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4 min read

Union Built: Inside Brooklyn’s New Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center

The borough’s largest recreation center brings light-filled design, exquisite craftsmanship, and long-overdue public investment to East Flatbush.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Why Infection Control Is Essential to NYC's Healthcare Construction Boom

Apr 22, 2026

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4 min read

Why Infection Control Is Essential to NYC's Healthcare Construction Boom

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Under Pressure: Life on New York City’s Non-Union Construction Sites

Apr 15, 2026

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6 min read

Under Pressure: Life on New York City’s Non-Union Construction Sites

Low wages, unsafe conditions, and unstable paychecks shape the daily reality for many workers building the city.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
From the Margins to the Middle Class: David Caraballoso

Apr 8, 2026

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5 min read

From the Margins to the Middle Class: David Caraballoso

The longtime carpenter nearly left the industry altogether before finding stability through union work — a path he now hopes to expand for others.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
Building the Next Generation of New York Towers

Apr 1, 2026

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7 min read

Building the Next Generation of New York Towers

An up-close look at the union craftsmanship behind JPMorganChase’s striking new Manhattan headquarters—a new model for the future of office buildings in NYC.

Brendan Spiegel
Brendan Spiegel
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