CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — United Association Plumbers Local 130 was slated to open its new training center on the near west side of Chicago on September 12. The facility is 50,000-square feet of building space surrounded by glass, copper, concrete and cast iron — all overlooking a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline. It’s unlike any training center the city has seen before. The training center has everything needed to train tomorrow’s plumbers with real-world scenarios.
The building is high-tech and eco-friendly, designed to train tomorrow’s plumbers on every green technology available. Apprentices learn how to harvest and reuse both rainwater and gray water. But the center goes beyond the green roof and the solar collector. Apprentices learn rigging, underground work, valve repair, hot work and more.
About the Author
Robert P. Mader
Bob Mader is the Editorial Director for Penton's mechanical systems brands, including CONTRACTOR magazine, Contracting Business and HPAC Engineering, all of which are part of Penton’s Energy and Buildings Group. He has been with CONTRACTOR since 1984 and with Penton since 2001. His passions are helping contractors improve their businesses, saving energy and the issue of safeguarding our drinking water. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with an A.B. in American Studies with a Communications Concentration.