Local 206 partners with signatory contractor to successfully flip college housing project

In a victory for SMART members, university students and jobsite standards, Local 206 (San Diego) recently flipped a large college housing project away from a nonunion competitor.

The Evolve Student Housing development at San Diego State University (SDSU) is a $450-million, multi-phase project consisting of five residential towers and an amenity building, with construction that started in May 2025 and continuing through December 2030. The university’s plan calls for maintaining student housing capacity throughout construction by bringing new beds online before existing units are demolished.

Ahead of construction, Local 206 signatory Ocean Park Mechanical completed BIM coordination and prepared to perform the mechanical scope. However, the general contractor, Swinerton, ultimately awarded the full mechanical package to nonunion company Atlas Mechanical.

Local 206 was familiar with Atlas from prior projects in the region. Union representatives began monitoring Phase 1 of the SDSU project and conducting site visits to assess progress. Conversations with other trades and on-site observations indicated that the mechanical contractor was struggling to meet project scheduling demands.

During this process, Local 206 brought to Swinerton’s attention an alleged wage-and-hour violation involving Atlas Mechanical.

In the months that followed, A.O. Reed & Co., a longtime Local 206 signatory contractor, was invited to submit a proposal for the next phase of work and later to provide pricing to assume additional phases of the development. A.O. Reed was subsequently awarded Phase 2 of the project and is currently in discussions to perform mechanical work on future phases of the Evolve Student Housing development.

This outcome reflects the importance of strategic jobsite monitoring, contractor accountability and maintaining strong relationships with owners and general contractors. Through coordinated efforts, Local 206 was able to help position a qualified signatory contractor to successfully deliver the mechanical scope on one of the region’s most significant higher-education housing projects.

That means work opportunities for SMART members. That means high standards for workers on the project. That means college students benefit from the quality and craftsmanship that signatory contractors bring to the table.

That is why we organize!