Project Data:

Firm Name:              Carlile Coatsworth Architects, Inc.

Completion Date:     2/9/2018

Square Footage:      225110

Building Use:           Training and Conference Center for The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)

Location:                 Located in the Town of Crosby in Harris County, Houston Texas

Project Description:

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) - Training and Conference Center is the focal point for engineers across the United States and Canada. Located on approximately 237 acres in Northeast Houston, the facility is the largest campus in North America for training with the latest technological advances in heavy machinery, pipeline and stationary engineering.

The IUOE Training and Conference center was designed for full hands on training. The main drive aisle brings you into the circular court where one could meet at the Main lobby of the administration building and be directed towards: the dormitory wings, the health club, the central plant, a warehouse building, the shop building, three site structures and many exterior training areas.

The multifunctional ballroom can be divided into 8 smaller areas by movable partitions to accommodate different sized events. This allows the IUOE to host large events or use for various sized classrooms. Gathering areas were provided such as: a bar area, a gaming area with pool tables and many relaxation spaces with lounge chairs located around the building for communal use.

The health club is centered in between the two dormitory wings and the administrative building. Surrounding the building is a basketball court, horseshoe pits, lounging areas and a large pool and spa for relaxation.

The central plant, considered the “jewel box” of the campus, holds the life support of the campus and training areas for the stationary engineers. The building was designed to allow visibility into the building for everyone to understand what is required for a building / campus to function properly. The design of the systems is considered irregular due to its redundancy and open layout allowing each system to be displayed as an exhibition space. The system allows various parts of the system to be turned off or switched over during the training sessions while the campus continues to function. There are several areas overlooking the central plant’s mechanical and plumbing systems including large classrooms, a control room and a catwalk for overhead view of the pump stations and the cooling towers.

The site structures are divided into separate areas at the south side of the campus and require many acres of surrounding land for the heavy equipment training. At these different locations the students will train in operating cranes, grading / excavating, and pipeline equipment.

The shop building is for heavy equipment maintenance and training. After the heavy equipment training is complete the equipment will be brought into the shop area where the master mechanic will be training in maintenance techniques and will service any damaged equipment.

The IUOE – Training and Conference Center will allow for the union to conduct administrative business and train at a comprehensive level in which has not been done at this scale in the IUOE industry. The students become the instructors at their local areas and can continue the tradition of high quality training for their members.

C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment

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