Local 206 members make history at A.O. Reed

Local 206 (San Diego, Calif.) members working for signatory contractor A.O. Reed made history on the IQHQ Research & Development District project — previously covered in the Members’ Journal — by fabricating and installing what SMACNA considers the largest ductwork ever fabricated, measuring 248” x 142”.

“Our BIM team worked hand-in-hand with SMACNA and the engineer to ensure these large systems operate at the highest quality,” A.O. Reed said in a press release. “After fabrication and installation, SMACNA reviewed its records and found the ductwork was the largest ever fabricated.”

A.O. Reed employs the largest number of union tradesworkers in San Diego County and is the only mechanical contractor in the city of San Diego that fabricates its own ductwork. The company, which started as a small plumbing business 110 years ago, directly attributes much of its success to its unionized workforce.

“This advantage gives us the unique ability to modify our fabrication process and adjust to the different idiosyncrasies of the job,” the press release continued. “Our team finds new and inventive ways to overcome obstacles in the field. At A.O. Reed, we have some of the best fabricators in our industry, and by utilizing our team’s skills and expertise, we made history! Our team produces high-quality products for our clients, and with the help of our journeymen, apprentices and technicians, we can provide the best mechanical systems in Southern California.”

Local 206 members working at the company’s in-house sheet metal shop put in long hours on the IQHQ duct system, fabricating approximately 24,000 pounds of galvanized steel roof duct. The duct riser was made of 15-gauge galvanized steel and weighed 1,600 pounds per joint.

“Our team of union journeymen, welders, technicians and apprentices meticulously fabricated these pieces of ductwork to ensure we provided the highest-quality product for the project,” the release concluded. “Without their skillset and craftsmanship this project would not have been possible.”