Lendlease Goes Purple In Honor of Spirit Day 2016

NEW YORK, N.Y. – In honor of Spirit Day 2006, Lendlease employees throughout the United States will be wearing purple on Thursday, Oct. 20, to show solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. In addition, Lendlease staff in New York will be handing out rainbow-colored shoelaces to construction workers at Columbia University’s Manhattanville Development to foster solidarity and raise awareness.

“At Lendlease, our vision is to create the best places and to do that Lendlease has to be a best place to work for all,” said Aole Ansari, executive general manager, Lendlease Healthcare and chairman of the Lendlease Diversity Council. “By celebrating Spirit Day and showing our support for LGBT youth, Lendlease commits to becoming an industry leader in diversity.”

Spirit Day observed annually since 2010, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations and public figures wear purple, which symbolizes ‘spirit’ on the rainbow flag to show their support for LGBT youth and raise awareness.

“Diversity, inclusion and respect for all are fundamental principles at Columbia. We are proud to partner with Lendlease and share this important message of Spirit Day,” said Marcelo Velez, vice president of Columbia University’s Manhattanville Development Group.

Lendlease is providing preconstruction and construction management services for several Phase I buildings and Phase 2 Utilities and Foundations of Columbia University’s Manhattanville in West Harlem Mixed-Use Academic Development. These phases consisted of a number of projects, including site work and infrastructure, abatement and demolition, slurry wall and foundation construction, the new Jerome L. Greene Science Center, Central Energy Plant, Studebaker Emergency Generators, Small Square, Lenfest Center for the Arts, Street Structures and Business School foundations, excavation and utility work.