Sheet Metal Local 36 Hosts BIM Academies

Sheet Metal Workers' Local 36 served as host for the International Training Institute's (ITI) Building Information Modeling (BIM) Academies the weeks of Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.

Members from other locals around the country are taking classes and earn certification that they can then use back at their locals and enhance their contractor's ability to do BIM coordination. Prior to the upcoming academies, ITI's certifications were only available at its headquarters in Las Vegas, but the ITI hopes to add another couple of locations in different regions later this year to offer certifications.

"We're honored to be able to host these academies and help other organizations add value to their services," said Local 36 President/Business Manager David C. Zimmermann. "BIM is an integral part of our industry and greatly enhances the value of our craftsmanship."

Since initiating its BIM program with the hiring of Steve Sneed in August of 2009, Local 36 and its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program have taken major steps to put the technology in the hands of their workforce. Local 36's ability to do so has now been recognized by ITI and Local 36 is becoming a resource for locals across the company to become certified in BIM.

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