To Build New York: 100 Years of Infrastructure
Issued by the General Contractors Association of New York (GCA), thisattractive centennial volumechronicles 20th-century Big Apple infrastructure construction beginning in 1909, when the GCA was formed. Presentinghistoric photographs(more than 100,some never before published), time lines, contemporary news, and anecdotes, the book moves chronologically from the openings of the Queensboro and Manhattan bridges to improvements in mass transit, roads and tunnels, water and sewers, urban renewal, and rehabilitation. Itsappealing visual format strikes a favorable balance between information excess and readability.A GCA directory, which names founding companies and modern offshoots, and photos of past association presidents and memorabilia take up about 20 pages at the end.This informative and well-designed publication,particularly of value for historical ready-reference facts, photos, and in-the-trenches perspectives, isrecommendedfor academic and larger public libraries.Russell T. ClementNorthwestern Univ. Lib., Evanston, IL (Library Journal)