The Engineers Club, Inc. traces its roots to Andrew Carnegie’s $1.5 Million dollar grant in 1888, establishing The New York Engineer’s Club. The New York Engineer’s Club became a physical institution at 32 West 40th Street attracting members of the mechanical, mining, civil engineering professions. At this address, individuals could exchange ideas and best practices, enriching the construction professional’s knowledge necessary for the growth of NYC and surrounding areas.
The Club was 13 stories high and had the usual assortment of rooms for men’s associations of that time, including 66 bedrooms and a 300-seat dining room that covered the entire 11th floor. Mark Twain spoke at the building’s dedication in December 1907 and shortly the membership grew to 1,898 members. In 1979, the engineers left 40th Street for rented quarters.
In the following years, The Engineer’s Club became an association comprised of sales, procurement and project engineers/managers involved in the NY and NJ industrial workplace. The annual Beefsteak Dinner was held at the Downtown Athletic Club on the Thursday prior to the Heisman Trophy presentation.
In the late ’90s, the association moved its annual dinner to the Suburban Country Club, Union, NJ, and sponsored bi-monthly dinners featuring speakers from the area’s EPCs, CMs and construction experts. As women entered the construction workforce, so did they enter the Engineer’s Club. The annual Beefsteak Dinner continues to be held at Suburban and the Club sponsors spring, summer and fall golf outings