A twist in the new construction is that parts of its walls will expose inner workings to demonstrate essential functions usually kept out of sight. Upgrades to the current premises are part of the project as well.

United Association Plumbers, Pipefitters and HVAC/R Technicians Local 111 represents the workforce of the Upper Peninsula and Niagara, Wis. About 450 active members belong to the organization, which has offices in Escanaba and Marquette. As the industry develops and the current facilities can only accommodate so much, Local 111 is working to better serve its members and future generations by modernizing and offering more training space, officials said.

“There is a big demand for skilled tradespeople right now, and technology is always changing,” said Training Coordinator John Antoncew for the UP Plumbers & Pipefitters Educational Fund. “There are new welding processes, BIM (Building Information Modeling), new pipejoining methods, constant advances in heating and refrigeration equipment. We have really outgrown the current facility.”

Six different organizations across the U.P. used to serve workers in the plumbing, pipefitting and HVAC industries decades ago. The union in Marquette, for example — chartered in 1946 and covering seven counties — had members who worked on construction projects at Northern Michigan University, K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan Technological University, Marquette General Hospital, Marquette State Branch Prison, The Empire Mine, Tilden Mine, the Upper Peninsula Power Company, The Marquette City Electrical Power Utility Company and Copper Range.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and HVAC/R Technicians Local 111's headquarters in Escanaba. The organization, which represents all of the Upper Peninsula as well as Niagara in Wisconsin, also has facilities in Marquette. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

A handful of consolidations resulted in the current setup. The final merger in 1997 brought Locals 414 and 728 into Local 506. In 2007, a new charter created Local 111, essentially renaming what had been 506.

Work performed by members today “includes installing and servicing water and drainage piping, plumbing fixtures, natural gas piping, boilers and heating piping, industrial piping, and air conditioning and refrigeration, among other things,” Antoncew said. “It’s a lot more than just setting toilets and welding pipe.”

Local 111’s hall in Escanaba is at 2601 N. 30th St. and has a 4,000-square-foot training center attached. It was built in 1998 to replace a previous, smaller office and training center at 1625 Sheridan Road and “is used for the training of around 55 apprentices and to keep our journeypersons up to date on techniques, code and safety,” Antoncew explained.

In April, the organization broke ground on land right next door at 2611 N. 27th Ave.

“The new building … will increase the square footage available for training by 300 percent and will have a dedicated classroom, computer lab, plumbing and HVAC/R lab, and an industrial piping lab. Portions of the plumbing and  mechanical systems will be exposed so that visitors can see what’s usually hidden in walls, ceilings, and mechanical rooms,” Antoncew said. “We are also upgrading the current facility to add more welding booths and to improve the ventilation system.”

The entire project will cost about $3 million and is being financed, he said.

With Roy Ness Contracting as the general contractor, the engineering and contract administration is being performed by Dynamic Design Group, electrical work by Master Electric, plumbing and mechanical work by United Contractors Inc. and building HVAC/R controls by Johnson Controls. Several other subcontractors are also contributing.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The organization’s premises in Marquette are at 119 S. Front St.

“From welding and fitting pipes in a wastewater plant, paper mill, mine, or power plant to installing steam systems beneath a city street, we are the men and women who keep critical systems intact,” Local 111 states on its website.

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R. R. Branstrom can be reached at 906-786-2021 ext. 140 or rbranstrom@dailypress.net.