International Training Center CONSTRUCTION OF THE IUOE International Training and Conference Center began in July. The goal is to build a world-class training facility to augment and enhance training opportunities for all IUOE members. A blue-ribbon panel of local IUOE Training Coordinators from across the United States and Canada worked to plan and develop the very best training facility, designed to meet the needs of our members and our industry. Every local union will benefit from this innovative training and conference center. Located on 225 acres of land in Harris County, Texas, the facility is in close proximity to major airports in the Houston area. The Texas Gulf Coast region is at the center of the oil and gas industry and its offshoots such as pipelines and the petrochemical industry. The renaissance of United States oil and gas production has spawned huge development in the Gulf Coast region and it is an area that has unlimited growth opportunities for the IUOE. Plans for the site include construction of classroom and administrative buildings, mechanic shop, warehouse, central utility plant, and a 228 room dormitory. Outdoor acreage will be utilized to conduct pipeline training, crane training, and heavy equipment operations. The building facilities will have built in redundancy for key aspects of the physical plant to allow Stationary Engineers to have hands-on training in real world conditions. The training and conference center will also host trainthe-trainer classes, journeyman upgrade training, and apprentice training. In addition, the facilities can be used for organizer training, new Business Manager/Business Agent training, and educational meetings for contractors, government officials, and local union and International representatives. When completed, the IUOE International Training and Conference Center will provide comprehensive and customized training services to meet the needs of the entire International. This state-of-the-art facility demonstrates our union’s commitment to high quality training to our signatory contractors, general contractors, and owners. [from top, right] Arial view of the 225 acre property; conference center, dorm building and central plant under construction; architect’s rendering of the training center. 12 INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER WINTER 2017 13
