Intricate mazes of pipes created by plumbers are usually tucked behind the walls. It?s often difficult to even know what type of material is used. However, at Local 130 the materials are being highlighted on the building?s façade.
The United Association (UA)?s Local 130 Plumbers Training Facility is one of the latest additions to Chicago?s impressive architectural portfolio. Featuring a stunning use a copper paneling and design, the project?s architectural firm, Gensler, sought to not only showcase copper?s incredible architectural applications, but draw attention to how essential copper is to the plumbing industry.
Photo Credit: Tom Harris
To attract a new generation of plumbers and pipefitters, materials synonymous with the plumbing trade, such as copper piping, galvanized steel and black pipe served as inspiration for the new local union. Copper piping is usually hidden behind a wall or floor, silently and dutifully performing tasks essential to our daily lives such as transporting and protecting our clean drinking water, all without notice. The design team wanted to celebrate both copper?s incredibly durable and aesthetic architectural performance by designing a copper wall cladding system. Photo Credit: Tom Harris
Copper has seen an increased use in wall cladding applications in the past decade, especially due to the material?s longevity, as copper cannot is extremely corrosion-resistant. Copper was also installed on the inside of the facility in symbolic installation...