Steamfitters UA Local 601 represents the Journeymen, Apprentices and Helpers, who work in the Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Process Piping Industry in the Southern Wisconsin area. This development creates a state of the art, Madison based training facility, and brings more public awareness to the Steamfitters profession. This facility provides the important, hands-on training to both men and women to keep current with the ever-changing technologies of the construction industry, while maintaining the knowledge and skills to remain competitive over the span of their careers.

The new LEED certified facility houses the Madison area training Hall for the local 601 Steamfitters Union. This consists of traditional classrooms, as well as hands-on training areas. A rigging structure replicates working on a steel structure jobsite, and a lower section of roof has training equipment to simulate working in an exposed environment. Training areas include both welding and fabrication, as well as an HVAC Lab that consists of distinct training areas for specific Mechanical units ranging from residential heating units and rooftop package units to Ice Machines. Lower level classrooms and corridors feature exposed mechanical equipment to serve as a teaching tool for the advanced VRF mechanical system.

In addition to the training component, there is a small office/administration area for the teachers and Union officials. A community room serves as a meeting hall for union members, which is also made available to the third district Alder and community for catered events. Lastly there is a shelled space that is planned for a small Clinic to serve union members only. This is planned to be completed within the next few years.

The most important challenge of the facility was to create a state of the art training facility that serves the workers learning in that environment, but to also provide areas for visitors and the public to be able to see what the Steamfitters actually do. Examples of this include two large glass viewing areas from the top floor lobby and the community room that overlook the open training areas where the workers are practicing and learning their skills.