UGI plans construction of new Berks County training center

The Bern Township Board of Supervisors has conditionally approved UGI Utilities, Inc.’s plan to construct a new training center complex on a 40-acre site on Stinson Road.

While additional steps regarding permitting and site development are still necessary before UGI can begin construction at the Berks County site, UGI expects that groundbreaking will take place in the fall. Construction of the facility is expected to take approximately one year.

“UGI thanks the members of the Bern Township Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and the Municipal Authority for their hard work and cooperation in helping to make this project possible,” said Hans Bell, COO of UGI.

UGI is purchasing the land for the center from the Greater Berks Development Fund, an affiliate of the Greater Berks Chamber Alliance.

The center’s 47,500 square foot building will include seven classrooms and two lecture rooms with seating for 135 people. Four labs within the building will accommodate specific UGI departments, including construction and maintenance, safety, service, and meter and regulation training programs.

The center will also include “Safety Town,” three townhouse-style buildings with full basements that will be used as simulators to allow participants to experience various types of emergency situations and learn appropriate responses.

UGI Utilities has headquarters in Denver, Pennsylvania, and serves more than 700,000 customers in 45 Pennsylvania counties and one county in Maryland.