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it's not everyday that a carpenter works on a structure made of waste denim, or a steamfitter goes to work in a surgical garb. Not unless these individuals are vital to the success of a technologically advanced construction process.

The following examples illustrate how traditional trade skill and thousands of hours of specialized training were applied to three very different buty highly advanced technology designs, with results that define the excellence of union craftsmanship.

Carnegie Mellon University Solar Decathlon Project
Challenged by the U.S. Department of Energy in the Solar Decathlon Project, Carnegie Mellon students worked to demonstrate how a sustainable development structure could operate in today's world. With faculty advisors, they designed and began building an 800-square foot live - work house called ReSolution, named for the stucture's reliance on solar power. But while the shell of the house could be built by the youth, the carpentry work and mechanical and electrical systems demanded expert hands.

Union contractors and craftsmen helped bring the students' vision to life. They provided passive heating and cooling strategies and a 6.8 kilowatt photovoltaic array to generate electricity for the two-story house and an electric car. A high-efficiency solar thermal system was installed to provide hot water. The structural envelope of the home was made of light gauge, recycled steel framing, cotton batt insulation made from waste denim and sheathing constructed without formaldehyde. Interior finishes included bamboo, wheat board, recycled glass tiles and scap metal. Union craftsmen also designed a way to disassemble, transport and reassemble the entire project at the National Mall in Washington D.C., where it was displayed in the Fall of 2002.

University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
For more than 10 years, faculty from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Health System have engaged in vital research on artificial organ technology. Today, thanks to a working partnership among design architects, union contractors and union craftsmen, McGowan researchers have a new, state-of-the-art facility that enables some of the most advanced research in artificial organ developement in the United States.

The McGowan Institute's new home is a 45,000-square-foot "green design" building located o the former site of LTV Steel along the Monongahela River. The $10 million, two-story stucture incorporates features that focus on sustainability, energy conservation and ways to minimize environmental impact. Union workers installed an energy-efficient system that reduces use of potable water by collecting rainwater for flushing low-flow toilets and employs a drip-type irrigation system that uses 70 percent less water than standard landscape sprinklers. They employed an efficient design, along with component selection, that reduces energy consumption by 25 to 30 percent without the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Careful attention was also given to indoor air quality standards regarding use of adhesives, carpets, sealants and paints with low volatile organic compounds, and monitoring levels of carbon monoxide. And, select recycled materials were used whenever possible, along with locally manufactured materials and those in compliance withy Forest Stewardship Council guidelines. The McGowan Institute is registered with the United States Green Building Council for its LEED™ designation, indicating Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Carnegie Mellon University Solar Decathlon Project

University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine

"This project illustrated the importance of communication and collaboration between the design community and the construction community. The strong support of the western Pennsylvania construction community made this project a success for all participants."

Stephen R. Lee
AIA, Faculty Advisor
Carnegie Mellon University

"From the early schematic design meetings, our contractor was part of the process. He offered contructability analyses, pricing and payback scenarios, and was thoroughly immersed in the LEED components' development. All of this contributed to the overall successs fo the building."

John C. Schrott
AIA, ACHA Vice President, Pricipal in Charge
IKM Incorporated - Architects