By MIKE LEE

District Council 37 is home.

After a five-plus-year redevelopment effort, DC 37’s iconic headquarters on 125 Barclay Street reopened just in time to celebrate the union’s 80th anniversary of receiving its charter from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

The week-long festivities kicked off with an official ribbon-cutting on Oct. 22 before the first Delegates meeting held in-person since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020. Attendees were impressed with the dramatic changes to the building and modernized, state-of-the-art interior.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Samantha Rappa-Giovagnoli, President of NYC Health Department Technical Professional Employees Local 3005. “It has been a long time since DC 37 members had a home to come to.”

The reconstruction effort began in the late summer of 2019. Architectural firm Hunter Roberts was responsible for reconstructing the union’s headquarters to create a more efficient, service-oriented, and sustainable space. The new building consolidates several union facilities into one operations center, the second step in the union’s long-term plan that also saw the grand opening of the DC 37 Health Center at 115 Chambers St. in November 2021.

“This new building means the beginning of our renaissance,” said Henry Garrido, DC 37 Executive Director. “After 80 years of great history, we come together to renew our commitment to our workers, and this building is a testament to that renewal.”

Construction at 125 Barclay included new electrical, air conditioning, and water sprinkler systems, removal of the existing façade, and installation of modern windows with aluminum-framed insulated glass. Workers also removed and reconstructed the building’s core rooms and modernized the existing elevators, adding five more to ease staff egress and visitors’ access to their locations.

A key goal in reconstructing the union’s headquarters was to reduce energy use and the impact on the surrounding environment. The new building is LEED- and Well-Certified, and built entirely with union labor. Visitors to the building will notice the addition of a rooftop garden and private space for special events. The union’s main entrance at 125 Barclay St. boasts an LED screen and upgraded service desk. A public patio with outdoor seating leads to the Park Place entrance.

Significant enhancements also include a dedicated Member Resource Center named for former Associate Director Oliver Gray who served the union for nearly 20 years. He was among the leaders tasked with the transformation of DC 37’s headquarters before his passing in June 2020.

The DC 37 Education Fund now occupies nearly an entire floor, with expansive classrooms, equipment, and study centers to improve student access to its educations programs and services.

“I’m impressed with the new building and the setup, and I’m sure we will improve services and opportunities for our members,” said Lillian Roberts, former DC 37 Executive Director. “I’m very proud of our current leadership. They’re in step with the times, and we have to grant them the opportunity to advance with the technology required in the years ahead.”

Celebrations continued on Friday, Oct. 25 with a member preview and Saturday, Oct. 26 with a Resource Fair where attendees learned more about what services DC 37 offers to members and their families. A Saturday night gala in the new rooftop event space provided guests, including many prominent local and state officials, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, and other union leaders, ample opportunity to celebrate the reopening of the union’s headquarters and its 80th anniversary as a guiding force in New York City labor.

Several religious leaders were on hand Sunday morning to bless the reopened headquarters in a nondenominational service. A video presentation honored Bill Lucy, a prominent figure in the history of AFSCME and the Civil Rights movement, who served as the national union’s secretary-treasurer for several decades and passed over the summer.

“How appropriate it is for us to celebrate our union’s 80th anniversary by preserving and constructing a building our members deserve,” Garrido said during the service. “We embarked on a five-year project under serious difficulties from COVID-19 delays and flooding, and now we are here today to receive this blessing on behalf of our 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees. I am beyond grateful for the great progress that we’ve made in this union in the past 80 years.”

The building is now open to current, retired, and potential members who can walk into 125 Barclay between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to be assisted with no appointment necessary.