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Building a Solid Foundation – Indianapolis-Area Update

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In 2022, a new criminal justice center will open its doors in Indianapolis thanks to the hard work of Central Indiana IKORCC members. Its focus will be on diverting people from jail and furnishing them with mental health services. It’s the largest construction project in Indiana in recent years.

The new campus is replacing the existing jail and courthouse in downtown Indianapolis that was built almost 60 years ago. The new campus consists of four main structures totaling more than 1.3 million square feet. On the 140-acre site there is a four-story 3,000 bed detention center, an eleven-story courthouse, an Assessment Intervention Center and a professional office building. In addition to the structures, two 1,000 space-parking garages will be constructed on the campus.

 

IKORCC members completed the foundation, concrete, bridge work, interior systems, case and millwork, scaffolding, welding and floor covering for the project. At its peak, almost 200 members worked on the project creating very significant manhours from Locals 301, 1076, 364, 1016 and 133. Nearly 20 signatory contractors secured work on the justice center.

In addition to building major projects, the Greenwood team has also heavily focused on building stronger relationships with school corporations. We now have responsible bidder ordinances with six central Indiana school corporations. In the coming years, these schools plan to do over $525 million in construction projects. In addition, these partnerships give us access to students and create a strong pipeline for our apprenticeship.

 

 

“It’s a no brainer. When you’re trying to put together quality construction projects, you want the very best. So, it was very easy to convince us that having this as a part of our bidder process was in our best interest,” said Dr. Shawn Smith, Superintendent MSD Lawrence Township.

IKORCC Hosts UBC Midwest District Olympics

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Saturday carpenters and floor layers from across the Midwest battled it out in the UBC Midwest Drywall & Flooring Olympics at the IKORCC headquarters in Greenwood, Indiana.

All competitors won regional drag races in order to advance to the Midwest finals. The participants all did amazing, but only one in each category advanced to the championships at the Carpenter’s International Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada later this year.

Jose Reyes from the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters won first place in the drywall race, with an impressive time. Our own Manuel Banegas, Local 301, earned second place in the drywall contest!

Joshua Landis from the St. Louis-Kansas City Regional Council won first place in the flooring contest. The IKORCC’s Noel Johnson also had a great showing in the flooring competition.

Thanks to all who participated in the UBC Midwest Drywall & Flooring Olympics at the IKORCC!

Indianapolis Carpenter Manuel Banegas Nails the Win

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Hanging drywall sounds easy, but can you do it faster and more accurately than dozens of your peers across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio? Local 301’s Manuel Banegas did just that.

Banegas and dozens of other participants competed to see how they measured up in the Drywall Drag Race Olympics. Banegas will represent the IKORCC in the United Brotherhood of Carpenter’s Midwestern District Interior Systems Competition on April 21st. Competition starts at 9:00 a.m. at the IKORCC headquarters in Greenwood, IN. Congratulations Manuel and thanks to all our participants! 

Greenwood Open House Competition Winners

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Congratuations to our 2017 Greenwood/Indianapolis winners! L-R Director of Education Todd Pancake;General Carpentry: Craig Whitaker, Interior Systems: Arie Perez, Millwright: Josiah Wooden.

Carpenters Offer Volunteer Service for Historic Trolley Station

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Garfield Park in Indianapolis is home to the last standing wood trolley station in the state of Indiana. Constructed in the early 1900s, the century-old trolley station was in need of structural improvements, and Local 301 Member Action Committee (MAC) members of the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC) eagerly agreed to help.

This project was an all-hands-on-deck collaboration funded by a Historic Preservation Fund 50/50 match grant. However, the grant did not cover all expenses, and volunteers were needed.

Steve Hoyt, Rick Russell Brian Duncan and Marco Martinez from Local 301 MAC, .300 Hitters Chad Capps and Chris Vantreese and four apprentices volunteered for five days, totaling 80 work hours, to install wood shakes on the structure that were donated by Formation Roofing in Indy. Additionally, Indy Parks painted the historic structure and will be pouring the concrete slab.

While working on the project, Local 301 MAC also discussed the importance of the quality of wood, craftsmanship and the Carpenter’s contribution to the building of the United States through history. “We take a very active role in giving back to our community, and we do all we can to help preserve the history and integrity of our city and country,” commented Steve Hoyt of the IKORCC. “The IKORCC dates back to 1881, and we feel it’s our duty – even as we make huge strides in technology and our carpentry capabilities – to direct special attention to the structures that continue to teach and remind us of our nation’s history.”

Partners in the rehab project included the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology, Indianapolis Parks Foundation, Indy Parks, Friends of Garfield Park, Indiana Landmarks, Efroymson Family Fund, Owings Foundation and Indiana Trails Fund.

For more information, please contact Steve Hoyt at shoyt@ikorcc.com.