Insulators Local 50 members help build County Forensic Science Center

Insulation work begins on Phase I of correctional facility

Despite facing obstacles, union construction crews completed work on the new Franklin County Forensic Science Center on time and within budget.

The project was built mostly by building trades members, including members of the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50.

The new $37 million facility nearly tripled the size of the former building, and has a layout that will allow bodies to flow through admission, diagnostic imaging, autopsy and other areas more securely and efficiently, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Compared to the old morgue, the toxicology lab is bigger, with more bio-secure space. This will provide staff members who work with potentially dangerous samples with increased safety protection.

The new facility has an observation area, which allows officers, students and others to be on hand without getting in the way of forensic pathologists while they work. 

Franklin County leaders were very happy with the project and the work done by Local 50 and members of the area’s other building trades unions.

On this project, Local 50 members expertly installed mechanical insulation on the various mechanical systems within the building to help them run efficiently. This work will not only reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by reducing the energy needed to run these systems, but it will also improve the lifespan of these systems.

In short, the work completed by Local 50 members will help save taxpayers money.

Franklin County Correctional Facility project update

In addition to the new morgue, work continues on the new Franklin County Correctional Facility.

Phase I of the Franklin County Jail project remains on schedule, as 200 trades members are constructing the 429,000-square-foot jail, which is being built under a Memorandum of Understanding with Franklin County. 

The MOU is similar to a Project Labor Agreement, but includes workforce goals such as diversification and local hiring.

Members of Insulators Local 50 have started their portion of the project as they begin to jacket the mechanical systems. Similar to the Forensic Science Center project, this work will ultimately save money by helping the mechanical systems run more efficiently.

The $175 million project is expected to wrap up next summer.