SMART Local 265 Invests in the Future with New Training Facility

Last summer, SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 265 said goodbye to its longtime Carol Stream training center and administrative office, relocating to a new facility in Downers Grove at 3110 Woodcreek Drive. The move wasn’t just about more space — it was about building a training center that can keep up with the demands of an evolving industry.

The former facility served Local 265 well, including earning TABB certification through NEMI in 2009, but it had its limits. As technology, building systems and contractor needs continue to evolve, so does the way members need to be trained. The new facility gives the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee the flexibility to adapt quickly and continue to improve the curriculum and how it’s delivered.

“This is going to be a tremendous training center when we get everything exactly the way we want it,” said Training Director Dennis Moran. “If there’s some specialty training that we can help with, we’re right there on board doing it.”

Upgrades to the space include:
• Two laser welding booths
• A Lockformer plasma table
• Computer lab that’s twice the size of former lab
• Dedicated space for fork lift and scissors lift training

By investing in cutting-edge equipment, the union is strategically investing in its workforce by giving members the tools and training they need to succeed. With eight staff members and 218 apprentices enrolled, the program is growing — especially on the service side, which has taken off in recent years.

“When we first started the service apprenticeship program in 2004, it would be one service tech to four sheet metal workers,” Moran said. “This year it was almost a ratio of 1:1, so service is growing leaps and bounds.”

Training also keeps pace with changing
regulations. Since January 1, 2022, fire and smoke damper inspections must be conducted by individuals certified in HVAC fire life safety through nationally accredited programs. Local 265 prepares members to meet those requirements through its recognized third-party testing program.
The union’s Building Inspectors Program, launched in 1994, remains a cornerstone. Every two years, inspectors from across the nine-county jurisdiction attend a day-long “crash course” on properly inspecting HVAC systems because, as Dennis says, “They know code, and we know HVAC and this helps fill in those HVAC knowledge gaps for them.”

Local 265 holds Platinum-level accreditation through the ITI and works closely with neighboring training directors at Local 73 and Local 219 in Rockford.

“I’m really proud of our JATC Committee,” Moran said. “Union and contractor both, they’re very devoted to our training. Not only do we train them in the sheet metal industry, we train them on what they need to be a great employee. That’s what I take pride in — helping contractors prosper and keeping our union strong.”