AFTER 300 YEARS, THE STEWARDS OF PHILADELPHIA’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN

AFTER 300 YEARS, THE STEWARDS OF PHILADELPHIA’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN

BY NICOLE CATRAMBONE, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE | GBCA

Today, The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County and Philadelphia and the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) are two prominent professional organizations in Philadelphia. Though their day-to-day work looks distinctly different, both groups are widely recognized for their longstanding commitment to stewarding the region’s built environment. What is noteworthy is just how far back this commitment goes—nearly 300 years—and how their significant historical connection continues to shape Philadelphia.

Philadelphia and the Master Builder

In 1724, the Carpenters’ Company was founded in Philadelphia as a guild of skilled craftsmen who were considered Master Builders, not specifically carpenters as we now know the trade. Their skills encompassed most everything architects, contractors, and engineers handle today, which made them essential to bringing William Penn’s plans for Philadelphia to fruition. In the decades before our nation was founded and the setup of formal industry oversight, the Carpenters’ Company also provided a standard of craftsmanship, of building excellence.

“Philadelphia’s first Master Builders were responsible for building icons like Christ Church’s steeple, Independence Hall, and our very own Carpenters’ Hall, which was home to Benjamin Franklin’s Library Company and the First Continental Congress,” says Michael Norris, Executive Director of the Carpenters’ Company. “They also set the rules of engagement and the standards for building in the early days of Philadelphia. This was done to regulate construction and ensure quality during a formative period for our city and our nation.”

Specialization Spurs Change

As Philadelphia evolved, so did the nature of construction. By the late 1800s, industrialization was well underway, forever changing building processes and leading to greater specialization in the industry. As specialized trades and professions emerged, including non-carpentry trades, architects, and engineers, the Carpenters’ Company shifted much of its focus to preserving the rich history of Carpenters’ Hall for the public to enjoy.

This shift left a vacuum of responsible leadership bringing all constructors together for the common good,” explains Charles W. Cook, Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Construction Management in Drexel University’s College of Engineering and GBCA Board Member.

To fill this void, members of the Carpenters’ Company formed a separate organization in 1891: The Master Carpenters’ and Builders’ Company, which was later renamed the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) in 1947. This organization, a more modern trade association, would also take on an advocacy role, connecting with elected officials and providing resources to grow and strengthen the construction industry. “GBCA would assume the responsibilities that the members of the Carpenters’ Company had advanced,” notes Cook. “The Carpenters’ Company recognized the need for political activism and involvement in the national welfare, the education of its members to improve construction techniques, a strong partnership with a skilled labor force, and leadership of the built environment in the Philadelphia area. As time has told, GBCA has succeeded on all of these fronts.”

Today, GBCA is the voice of union commercial construction in Philadelphia and has a robust membership representing the most well-respected commercial contractors, specialty contractors, and construction service providers in the region.

Shaping Today’s Philadelphia

Beyond the Carpenters’ Company’s efforts to preserve Carpenters’ Hall and the important history surrounding the organization, it, too, remains an influential association that brings builders, architects, and engineers together for the good of Philadelphia.

“The Carpenters’ Company is all about connecting the past, present, and future,” says Norris. “We do that by creating space for dialogue and fellowship among the built community. No one is living, working, or building in this city in isolation. Together, we have to carefully thread the needle between history, preservation, and the modern built environment.”

This complements GBCA’s work on a number of fronts, as the association unlocks the power of union commercial construction to help Philadelphia—and Philadelphians—thrive.

“Shaping our city is an enormous responsibility. It means preserving treasured landmarks, adapting older buildings to modern-day needs, building infrastructure that fosters innovation, and, importantly, creating spaces built with the community in mind,” says Benjamin J. Connors, Esq., CAE, GBCA’s President & CEO. “By ensuring all of this is done thoughtfully, safely, and with the highest level of craftsmanship, we’re doing our part to make sure the Philadelphia region is a place that will serve all of us well into the future. As the world continues to change, our commitment to helping lead our great city is stronger than ever.”