Operating Engineers 324 Training Center

180' Clear Span Indoor Training Facility

Operating Engineers 324 Training Center embarked on an ambitious project to expand their Howell, Michigan campus with a training facility and indoor arena. The 90,000 sf addition connects to the existing Construction Career Center and provides a year-round, state-of-the-art indoor space where equipment operators and technicians can train safely in any weather.

The expansion features seven pre-engineered metal buildings that house classrooms, a mechanics shop, a storage area, and a truck wash bay. The lean-to mechanics shop is outfitted with advanced equipment, lifts, and cranes to support apprentice and journeyman training. The facility was designed with exposed battered wall foundations that rise six feet above grade, forming a protective perimeter to withstand impacts during hands-on training. A metal building system was selected for its cost-efficiency in achieving the required 180' clear span and 38' clear height. The collaborative design-build approach ensured the project met all functional, budgetary, and timeline goals.

This project was featured in a case study