DRAW Collective worked with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to design a new office building and Union Hall for Local Union 712. The union has more than 450 professionally-trained electricians serving over 40 contractors in Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, and Crawford Counties.
The new office building and union hall for Local Union 712 is located within a residential area of downtown Beaver and replaced the prior, dated union hall. The structure was designed to highlight the building infrastructure and allow users to see how a building is constructed. The electrical room is located in the main lobby with windows on all sides to display the electrical system, adding an educational element for building users to engage with.
Sustainable building systems were also a key component and incorporated into the building through a geothermal well system, and multiple Electrical Vehicle charging stations. A Photovoltaic (PV) solar array was also initially designed but not included in the actual project.
The site was designed to create a focal point towards the new building; aesthetics, sustainability, and functionality were all considered. The previous site had no stormwater management, but the new design was strategically graded to capture and infiltrate all storm runoff into one large rain garden. Safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation was incorporated as well as outdoor gathering space for employees and visitors. The overall site was designed to blend into the surrounding neighborhood, allowing the old landmark to become a place the community can continue to be proud of.
