IUOE LOCAL 150 TO BREAK GROUND ON ITS DISTRICT 8 UNION HALL, A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FOR UNION HALLS ACROSS THE U.S., IN ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, AFL-CIO, a labor union representing 23,000 working men and women in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa whose members operate and maintain heavy equipment in a variety of industries, held a groundbreaking ceremony on a first-of-its-kind Union Hall in District 8 out of Rock Island, Illinois. The ceremony took place on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. at 3511 78th Ave. W, Rock Island, IL. The event had in attendance the City of Rock Island Mayor Thoms, Local Aldermen, project manager Valley Construction, Zingrone Architects, and Local 150 members in support of the project, which will serve the men and women union members in Local 150’s District 8.
Design of the New Union Hall
The construction of the 15,000 square foot Local 150 hall is the first Local 150 union hall built under President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney. The hall’s design includes a wing of administrative offices, lobby with Union history showcase, and an adaptable hall space with seating for up to 300 people. The building will be the first Union Hall in the entire country fully constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam columns and beams. This design positions the hall at the forefront of sustainable building and architecture and makes a powerful statement. The eco-friendly features of the new center demonstrate Local 150’s dedication towards their membership, the communities in District 8, and responsible development in working to provide a greener future for the people of Illinois and Iowa.
The building is located on a 14-acre site that sits across the street from the current Local 150 District 8 hall and offers a diverse landscape of old growth forest and protected wetlands. The site provided many challenges as approximately 75% is within the designated flood plain leaving only a small clearing of land in the center of the property to build on with minimal impact to the existing context.
From initial design meetings, Local 150 had a strong commitment to preserving and protecting the site’s natural design features and setting the bar of what future union related buildings can offer in the Quad Cities and beyond. The site is designed to feature natural prairie and wetland landscaping, bioswale stormwater detention and minimal maintenance to reduce the buildings overall impact on the surrounding landscape.
Use of Glulam and CLT
IUOE Local 150 is committed to creating greener futures. Two important features of the new District 8 Union Hall will be the use of both Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam Columns and Beams.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT): IUOE Local 150 District 8 Union Hall will be the first Union Hall in the entire country to utilize CLT. The District 8 Union Hall will set a new standard for sustainable architecture and construction across the U.S. as the first Union Hall fully constructed from CLT, a renewable resource and engineered wood.
Glulam Columns and Beams: Pound for pound, stronger than steel. Glued Laminated. Timber, or glulam, is a highly innovative construction material made from structurally engineered wood, and it is strong than steel with a greater strength and stiffness than comparable sized dimensional lumber. Glulam columns and beams are used in the base structure of the Union Hall.
History of IUOE Hoisting and Portable Unions in Rock Island, IL
The history of the IUOE Hoisting and Portable unions in the Rock Island area dates back to 1896. For nearly six decades following, four IUOE Unions operated in the region, and finally merged into Local 537 in 1955. Then, in 1991, Local 537 Business-Manager Jack Shadt approached Bill Dugan about a merger with Local 150 in order to strengthen his 1,000-member local. IUOE Local 537 had Hoisting and Portable jurisdiction over the Illinois and Iowa region known as the “Quad Cities” straddling the Mississippi River (Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island, Illinois). Bill Dugan, then President-Business Manager of Local 150, kept the Local 537 Officers on as Business Agents knowing they could best service the newly created Local 150 District 8.
Through numerous collaborations, partnerships, and commitments, Local 150 builds on the legacy of the many Locals that have created the ever-important presence of unions in the Quad-Cities throughout the years. Local 150 is proud of the ties that continue to bolster our membership, which includes great-great grandsons, great grandsons, and grandsons of members of Local 426 and Local 537, working or retired, from Local 150 today.
Renderings of IUOE Local 150 District 8 Hall
Ongoing Updates
The construction project is estimated for a 10 to 12-month timeline. Stay tuned as we continue to provide monthly updates of the construction progress on our new District 8 Union Hall.