New York City is always under construction. 

We’ve long been home to the world’s most recognizable skyline, but even more emblematic of this city is the fact that there’s constantly something new going up. Behind those omnipresent cranes is a $68-billion-a-year industry powered by nearly 250,000 construction workers. 

Yet the stories of who builds New York—and how they get it done—often go untold. 

That’s exactly why we’re launching Under Construction News, a new platform dedicated to covering New York City’s construction industry. 

Every week, we’ll bring you deeply reported articles and carefully crafted profiles about the people of New York City’s construction industry, the ambitious new projects they’re building, and the complex issues they navigate along the way. 

We’re launching UC News because we want to make sure the voices of these workers and the contractors who hire them—too often missing from other reporting about this sector—are front and center in this conversation.

This new publication is a project of the Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York (CCA Metro), the leading voice on issues affecting the 20,000 carpenters represented by nine local unions, and the more than 1,000 contractors that employ them. 

Our mission is simple: to share the true stories of what’s really going on behind the scenes in one of New York’s most vital industries. To do that, we’re working with reporters and editors who have experience at New York’s top media outlets—and who will speak directly to the people at the center of this work.

“There are a lot of other forums that cover this business, but there’s not much out there about what union carpenters and contractors actually do—the work product we deliver while working on some of the most prominent projects in New York City,” said Paul Fernandes, Executive Director of CCA Metro. “Our intention is for Under Construction to help fill this void and tell some of the stories that aren’t being told elsewhere.”

Our reporting will explore the advantages of union construction to project owners, developers, and communities. We’ll also investigate subpar conditions and exploitative practices in nonunion construction—always with a focus on hearing directly from workers and contractors themselves, in their own voices.

“These are your neighbors. They’re the people you work with, ride the train with, that your kids go to school with,” said Paul Capurso, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City District Council of Carpenters. “They have the same struggles as other New Yorkers, and they are a workforce that is a lot more diverse than many people realize.”

“The organized sector of the construction industry continues to be the engine that drives New York City’s economy,” says John O’Hare, managing director of the Building Contractors Association. “Ensuring that the highest safety standards and training are met, while providing the customer with a project that is completed on time and on budget, is an enormous challenge. Our contractors, along with our union partners, successfully meet that challenge every day.”

In the months to come, we’ll spotlight how this workforce represents the diversity of this city; examine the training and skills that prepare them for this demanding work; and explore how smart public policy can help ensure they can afford to live here while strengthening their communities.

The last few years have brought significant challenges, as the city recovered from the pandemic and navigated an uncertain economic climate. But there are major opportunities on the horizon. In 2026 and beyond, the new 485-x and 467-m tax exemption programs are expected to boost affordable housing construction, while marquee infrastructure investments—including the MTA’s largest-ever capital plan, the new Port Authority Bus Terminal multibillion-dollar megaproject, and innovative climate-resiliency initiatives—will reshape the face of New York once again.

Under Construction News will spotlight the people behind these projects, dig deep to tell the full story of what’s really happening on job sites and in boardrooms alike, and make sure you’re the first to know what’s coming next.

Sign up now to receive our reporting straight to your inbox, and look for our first original story next week.