ANDROMEDA COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION A Workforce Development Program for NYC’s Building Restoration Trade
ABOUT ACI Formed in January 2018, Andromeda Community Initiative [ACI] is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded to serve and elevate the building restoration industry by offering professional development opportunities, free educational programs, and job-related training.
IN ALL ITS EFFORTS, ACI: Believes in creating opportunities for all people, regardless of background, seeking a stable career and fair working standards. Aims to inspire tradespeople to lead by example and elevate those around them every day. Ensures that each program participant receives the proper education and training needed to begin and sustain a successful career in building restoration. Provides the proper safety and skills training needed to begin, sustain, and advance in a successful building restoration career.
WHO WE ARE In response to a shortage of trained professionals and a desire to grow diversity in the field, building restoration industry leaders founded ACI in 2018 to provide the specialized training required to preserve and elevate the trade.
WHAT IS BUILDING RESTORATION? Building restoration is the art of preserving New York City’s buildings and structures. In repairing and maintaining the building envelope—including facades, roofs, balconies, plazas, and interior below-grade spaces—the integrity of the building is protected and community members are kept safe. New York City local façade ordinance mandates that all buildings six stories or more have their exterior walls and appurtenances inspected and restored on a five-year cycle. A $1.5B sub-sector of the construction industry, building restoration is virtually recession proof due to the combined forces of local law, extreme weather variations, and an aging building stock. 2
A MEANINGFUL CAREER The success of the building restoration industry requires collaboration among people with complimentary skills. The management track orients around worker safety, project execution, and client service while the technical track focuses on evolving expertise in hands-on skills.
TECHNICAL TRACK
LABORER
MECHANIC
CRAFTS PERSON
MANAGEMENT TRACK PROJECT MANAGER ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER SUPERINTENDENT
FOREMAN
WORKER
SALARIES RANGES* Laborer Mechanic Craftsperson Foreman Superintendent Assistant Project Manager Project Manager
$31K - $55K $50K - $80K $60K - $95K+ $60K - $110K $75K - $140K $80K - $110K $90K - $200K+
* Salary ranges shown are for Non-Union, NYC Construction Workers and are “Annualized”. Source: PayScale crowd-sourced data.
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MASONRY RESTORATION PROGRAM ACI’s Masonry Restoration Program, partners with local organizations to recruit a diverse body of students to be educated and trained. This program is provided free-of-charge to the participant, in the entry-level skills of the trade. Safety is the number one priority for employers and laborers. ACI partners with Andromeda Academy of Construction Trades, an IACET certified and NYC Department of Buildings approved training provider, to educate ACI students to gain essential compliance certifications required to protect their safety.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Admissions: Participants must be endorsed by their community partner referring entity and must be able to commit to the time demands of the training and full time work in the industry. While no formal academic achievement is required, participants must be able to follow materials written on a 6th grade level. Schedule: 5 weeks (5 days per week). Facility: 3,150sf indoor training area, simulation façades, 850sf classroom. 4
HANDS-ON TRAINING Subject-matter experts teach ACI students the following industry fundamentals: • Pointing • Patching • Caulking • Waterproofing • Tool Safety • Roofing • Brick • Stucco • Supported Scaffold Use • Suspended Scaffold Use
SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS The following certification courses are included: • 30-Hour OSHA • 4-Hour Supported Scaffold User (DOB) • 16-Hour Suspended Scaffold User (DOB) • Respirable Crystalline Silica Protection • Fall Prevention Awareness Training
JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT A true workforce development program, ACI matches capable candidates with trusted employers. Job-placement resources and support for students include: • Job Placement Services • Interview Preparation • Resume Building • Externship • Post-Graduation Support 5
CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMS SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM Building restoration and preservation is an art form that requires skilled craftsmen and women. Without a training center for career advancement opportunities, entry level workers take longer to advance to mid-level skills and mid-level technicians face obstacles to reach their potential. That’s why ACI developed a career advancement program to serve every level of the building restoration workforce. ACI’s experienced mechanics support mid-career technicians in their commitment to achieve the next level of each skill. The skills essential for mastery such as stucco, pointing, bricklaying, patching carved stone, replacing lintels, and fixing cornices can all be practiced on ACI’s simulation façade, an essential training tool. The simulation wall is comprised of brick, stucco, terracotta, granite and limestone. By stripping away the field conditions of weather, extreme height and project demands, workers can focus on the hand-work involved in achieving excellence. 6
The expansive work area allows for practice assembling and dissembling suspended scaffolds, a critical aspect of conducting a job safely. Additionally, the double-height ceiling grants clearance to practice the installation and removal of supported scaffolds.
SAFETY FIRST The foundation of the construction industry is worker safety. Without a trusted training provider who stays abreast of evolving safety standards, mitigating the risk of injury on the job is difficult. Theoretical safety training is the only option for many workers even though practical step-by-step simulations are often the most effective way to learn. The industry experts behind ACI envision a training resource that ensures all on-site foremen, superintendents, and qualified safety professionals (QSPs) have the knowledge, competence and cultural support to guard the safety of every individual in contact with a job site. The vast number of workers in the industry make this a long term goal for ACI to work toward, course by course, student by student. 7
SUPPORT ACI Andromeda Community Initiative subsists on contributions from industry groups, private donors, and public sector agencies. With generous donations from supporters like you, ACI continues to elevate the standard of education and training through its workforce development and career advancement programs. To support ACI please email info@andromedainitiative.org or call 929.233.7696.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President John Pantanelli, former President and current Board Member of the NYC Special Riggers Association Secretary Michael Difonzo, President of Central Construction Management Treasurer Sandor Molnar, CFO of Andromeda Advantage Inc. Stephan Andreatos, President of Skyline Restoration Inc. Eric Janczyk, President of Nova Construction Services LLC Daniel Padernacht, Esq., Padernacht Law, P.C. Tom Zovas, President of Star-Cel Waterproofing & Restoration Corp.
STAFF Executive Director David M. Nidus, Esq. ACI Trainer Christos Bassiouris Director of Business Development Tai Taylor Program Associate Frantzi Juste 8
Andromeda Community Initiative 49-12 31st Place, Long Island City, NY 11101 929.233.7696 info@andromedainitiative.org andromedainitiative.org
