(TOWN OF LOCKPORT) - Working with the Niagara County Building & Construction Trades Council to construct a new $150 million, six structure data center for the world-wide web company Yahoo! in the Town of Lockport has been "a great experience," Structure Tone Project Manager Joe Lapointe tells WNYLaborToday.com.

"I've been in the business for forty-three years now and I've absolutely loved it.  I've told people the experience I'm having here (has been so good), that if I could finish my career here, I would," said Lapointe, whose New York City-headquartered construction company was involved in more than $3 billion in projects located all over the world in 2008 alone. 

"Personally, a job is a job.  You hear about the negativity (about working with Organized Labor), but this has been a great experience.  We're right on schedule and looking good.  I've had a good relationship with all the Trades and the fellas have worked hard, right through inclement weather.  I've gotten good feedback from the contractors, who are also impressed.  I've gotten to know a lot of the business agents here and they've been very helpful.  When you walk though the worksite you see (everyone) working.  Nobody's standing around," Lapointe said.

Niagara County Building Trades President Clyde Johnston, Jr., who noted the first $80 million phase of the project "created a couple hundred construction jobs," was not surprised.  "I understand they're very happy and so are the Trades.  We haven't had any problems at all" Johnston told WNYLaborToday.com.    

California-headquartered Yahoo! is a world-wide provider of Internet services, including search engines, directories, social media web sites and on-line mapping.  According to information on the company that is posted on the Internet, the global network served by Yahoo! receives 3.4 billion page views per day on average, and is the second most visited web site in the world.

It's anticipated the Yahoo! Data Center - which is being constructed on 30 acres located within the Town of Lockport's Industrial Business Park - will employ as many as 125 people.  Phase I of the project is expected, according to media reports, to create 75 permanent jobs alone with yearly salaries ranging from $65,000 to $75,000.  Yahoo! was attracted to Western New York by "economic development opportunities and competitive hydro-power rates," as well as the region's well-known climate conditions - including its cold winters - which company officials have been quoted as saying will actually decrease the costs of running its data center.

"When I first heard about it, I said, 'Yeah, right,'" said an initially skeptical Niagara County Trades President Johnston.  "But it did happen and we're very happy it did."

The Niagara County Building Trades Council's member Unions combine to represent 10,000 workers.  Those Unions include: Asbestos Workers Local 4; Boilermakers Local 7; Bricklayers Local 3; Carpenters Local 289; Cement Masons Local 111; Electrical Workers Local 237; Ironworkers Local 9; Laborers Local 91; Operating Engineers Local 463/Surveyors Local 463D; Painters District Council 4; Plasterers Local 9; U.A. Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 22; Roofers Local 74; Sheet Metal Workers Local 71; U.A. Road Sprinklerfitters Local 669; and Teamsters Local 449. 

It is expected the Yahoo! Data Center will be fully operational by May 2010.  Construction is occurring in two-phases.  "Foundation-wise, we're ninety-eight-percent of the way there and about fifty-percent on the buildings.  The first ones are up, the second (wave) are underway and we're getting ready to go into the third building.  We're doing good," Lapointe said.

According to information posted on its web site, Structure Tone was founded in 1971 in New York City, where the firm's headquarters remains today.  Structure Tone has grown over the past four decades to become a pre-eminent construction services provider and is currently listed 21st overall on Engineering News Record's Top 400 contractors' list.  

The organization - which is involved in a complete range of its clients' construction needs, including renovation and expansion, new construction, technology and infrastructure upgrades and sustainability initiatives - includes Structure Tone Inc., Constructors & Associates, Pavarini Construction Co. and Pavarini McGovern.  These companies collectively represent over 1,100 employees in 21 offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Asia.  In 2008, the Structure Tone organization delivered over $3 billion in construction volume, the company stated on its web site.