A local electrical union celebrated the opening of its new union hall and training center in Allentown on Tuesday afternoon.
Local Union 375 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers moved from its 20,000-square-foot-facility at 1201 W. Liberty St. in Allentown to 101 S. Seventh St., a building once occupied by a state agency that decided to move.
The new site is a 30,000-square-foot office building at Seventh and Walnut streets. The project cost $2.1 million.
Alvin H. Butz Inc. of Allentown completed the renovations to the building, according to a news release. Roberson Butz Architects of Allentown served as the architect.
The project consisted of interior and exterior renovations to an existing former social services building to house facilities for IBEW and the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
The renovations included building an exterior entrance and upgraded entrance into the meeting hall, creating executive and administrative offices for IBEW and JATC, building apprentice training classroom and labs, creating a union meeting hall and adding interior finishes and upgrades for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
The first floor has offices, while the second floor has apprentice labs and a training center including a motor control lab, conduit bending lab and low-voltage wiring lab.
“These renovations provide IBEW a larger, upgraded facility to meet increasing member needs,” said Greg Butz, president and CEO of Alvin H. Butz, in a statement. “… Beginners are able to learn the trade in a hands-on environment, testing their abilities in the conduit bending room, fire alarm systems management station, CPR simulator and even close-quarters experience in a manhole buried outside the building.”
Apprenticeship programs and continuing education courses such as those offered at IBEW Local No. 375 are very important to the development of a strong labor force, Butz said.
“As a construction management firm, we realize the value and demand for a skilled workforce and are proud to have been a part of this project,” he said.
