IBEW Training Center

IBEW Training Center

Intro

IBEW Training Center

The building provided a new home for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and was developed jointly between IBEW and Warren Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund (WEJA).  The building includes classrooms and learning labs which expand the educational offerings of the WEJA. A variety of materials dress the façade of the building and create an exciting entry element on the generally rural site.

Details

IBEW Training Center

Challenge

The IBEW needed a flexible floor plan where large learning labs and meeting rooms could be mixed with smaller classrooms without significantly overbuilding the facility.  The client also desired a budget friendly exterior with a formal entry and offices that were separate from the evening classroom facility.

Solution

A pre-engineered steel structure was selected to provide the client the large open spaces desired.  The open design would also allow the flexibility to reconfigure interior spaces as needed. Metal siding with a complementary block skirt for durability were used on the secondary façades of the building to address budget concerns. A blend of colors in smooth and split-face concrete block along with decorative EIFS patterns and strongly contrasting metal fascia create visual interest calling attention to the building entrance.

GLI Pool Products, Youngstown

GLI Pool Products, Youngstown

Intro

GLI Pool Products

A successful manufacturer of pool covers and accessories, GLI Pool Products approached Phillips|Sekanick Architects to develop a new space to accommodate the needs of their expanding employee base.  The final design included an addition which could be utilized as an employee break area, meeting room or training area.

Details

GLI Pool Products, Youngstown

Challenge

At the start of the project the client wasn’t sure which functions were most necessary to meet the employees’ needs, or how much square footage would be required for those functions.  By listening to the client’s concerns Phillips|Sekanick Architects was able to develop a balanced program of spaces to meet the stated needs. Indoor and outdoor break areas were high on the list of priorities.

Solution

By utilizing a sliding glass wall system that could be hidden when not in use, the design team was able to create a large employee break room which could be subdivided into smaller areas as needed.  The 3,800 square foot addition includes not only a vending an employee break area, but also a space that can easily be partitioned to host staff meetings and training. An outdoor break area was also created using pool cover material as a fabric sun screen.  This playful addition provided visual excitement to the overall design.

Howland Machine Corp.

Howland Machine Corp.

Intro

Howland Machine Corp.

Looking to expand their manufacturing facilities and add an office area to one of their existing manufacturing buildings in Niles, Ohio the owners of Howland Machine Corp. consulted with Phillips|Sekanick Architects in the planning of their new facilities.  Working closely with the owners and the Building Inspection Department, two new building additions were developed that provided a cost-effective solution to the client’s needs.

Details

Howland Machine Corp.

Challenge

The entire project site is located in the floodplain of the Mahoning River.  This makes storm water run-off a critical issue. Adequate Lunch Room space and an outdoor eating area where employees could get a reprieve from the factory environment were additional owner requests.  Just prior to the start of construction, the owner sought to relocate the mechanical equipment from the floor level to an elevated mezzanine.

Solution

Phillips|Sekanick Architects coordinated the work of the Civil Engineer to address stormwater run-off concerns of the local authorities, arriving at a solution that was acceptable to all parties.  As part of the new office addition, an Employee Lunch Room which could accommodate up to 30 employees was built. The Lunch Room, located on the side of the addition facing the river, included an outdoor patio which provided a more bucolic space for employee breaks.  Phillips|Sekanick Architects accommodated the owner’s change requests and skillfully addressed the fire rating and access concerns for the mezzanine space.