IBEW Local 212 and the Convention Center Transformation
✊ A Union Built on Excellence
For over 120 years, IBEW Local 212 has represented the highly skilled, safety-focused electricians of Greater Cincinnati. Our members power the city’s growth with expertise, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Whether it’s a neighborhood renovation or a city-defining project, Local 212 is on the job—making sure the lights stay on and the future stays bright.
🏗️ About the Project: Revitalizing the Duke Energy Convention Center
Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center, built in 1967, is undergoing a much-needed $240 million renovation. The project is led by 3CDC, in collaboration with Messer, Triversity, and Jostin.
Target completion: January 2026.
Key Features:
- A new two-acre Elm Street Plaza with retractable bollards for flexible event space
- A sweeping new glass façade and interior upgrades to exhibit spaces, ballrooms, and mechanicals
- Full energy-efficiency overhauls—power systems, lighting, and HVAC modernization
- A massive 70′ x 26′ LED video board on the building’s southwest face
- A fully programmable LED “CINCINNATI” sign, replacing the current façade banner
⚡ Where Local 212 Comes In
This isn’t just a facelift. It’s a technological transformation, and Local 212 is proud to be wiring the backbone of it.
💡 Advanced Lighting & Signage
The new LED sign isn’t just for show—it’s an engineering feat. Each individual letter is a custom-controlled lighting element with animation and dynamic color capabilities. This work demands precision and experience—exactly what Local 212 electricians bring to the job.
🖥️ High-Capacity Infrastructure
From powering the massive video display to laying the groundwork for the Convention Center’s new energy-efficient systems, our members are installing the infrastructure that will power Cincinnati’s largest event space for the next 50 years.
🧑🏫 Real-World Apprentice Training
Through our JATC program on Glenway Avenue, apprentices are gaining hands-on experience on this high-profile project. Alongside seasoned journeymen, they’re rebuilding the Convention Center’s core electrical infrastructure—from power distribution systems and service panels to conduit runs, transformers, and switchgear. At the same time, they’re learning to install modern low-voltage systems like LED signage, programmable lighting, and digital video displays. It’s a comprehensive training ground that prepares our members to handle everything a large-scale renovation demands—old school to cutting edge.
🛠️ Union Labor Means Quality Work
As a union, we fight for fair wages, jobsite safety, and high standards—and this project reflects those values. The Convention Center renovation is being built with skilled, local labor, the way it should be.
📈 Why It Matters to Cincinnati
| What’s Changing | Why It Matters |
|---|
| New façade and plaza | Enhances downtown experience and tourism |
| LED signage + displays | Elevates visibility and civic branding |
| Union-built workforce | Strengthens local economy and pride |
| Apprentice involvement | Builds the next generation of electricians |
This project is about more than a building—it’s about people, progress, and pride. It’s about Cincinnati investing in itself, and IBEW Local 212 making sure the job is done right.
🔧 Stay Tuned
We’ll be sharing updates from the Convention Center job site as the project continues. Check back here for the latest on how our union is building the future.
📍IBEW Local 212 – Proud to power Cincinnati since 1901.