This month, we spoke with Chris Black, President of Level 5 Construction, Inc. (Level 5), about his company's involvement on the Project. Level 5 has been contracted to furnish and install drywall and acoustical ceilings throughout five floors of the expansion, as well as installing hollow metal doors and frames. The firm also provides Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certified temporary protection and manages worker safety for parts of the Project.
Chris Black, President of Level 5 Construction, Inc.
Level 5 started work on the Project about a year ago, but Chris has 35 years of experience in the industry. His firm is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) based in nearby Mount Vernon with a track record of contributing to large-scale projects throughout the New York area. The company has formed a strategic alliance with contractor Component Assembly Systems, Inc. to team up on these mega projects. Chris told us how grateful he is to have such a supportive partner that allows Level 5 to continue growing. In addition to the Javits Expansion, Level 5 is also working on the Moynihan Train Hall expansion of Penn Station, the 66 Hudson skyscraper (aka "The Spiral") and the Memorial Sloan Kettering’s David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care.
Even with the additional projects, Chris still walks the Javits site multiple times per month to supervise all the work being done. Maintaining temporary protection elements is especially challenging, he explained, because it requires coordinating with hundreds of different contractors who are all working at different parts of the Project at different times. Level 5 takes its responsibility for worker safety very seriously and Chris is proud of the reputation his firm has established for doing high-quality work at any scale. He has formed decades-long relationships with general contractors throughout the region, including several on the LLTJV team, and is excited to be part of another transformative project in his hometown.
