On January 24, students from the district Construction Program toured renovations at College Hill and met with members of the bond project management team. This opportunity allowed students to see a live construction site, ask questions of the construction crew, and engage in practical discussions about career opportunities, pathways, and pay.
College Hill Construction Site
Students met with Wenaha Group Project Managers Patrick Linhart and Dale Kuykendall, Todd Construction Project Manager Joshua Clark, and Project Superintendent Joe Pynch to walk through the site. Throughout the building, students viewed different types of construction work and saw pre-construction photos and construction drawings of those spaces. Students were able to see first-hand carpentry, seismic retrofitting, concrete, electrical, and plumbing work.
As students looked at the work, construction program teachers provided examples of recent program projects that were similar or shared the same technical or skill elements. This allowed students to ask why one type of pipe would be used over another or how to manage change orders. They also discussed site safety and how this is maintained on a construction site.
Construction Trailer
In the second half of the visit, students met with Fortis Construction Senior Project Manager Brian Gruenemay and Project Superintendent Todd Van Beek in the Wenaha office. They showed students 3D modeling of the Lincoln construction project, which allowed them to see how the multiple layers of construction projects fit together. The team discussed the benefits of using this program to help save time and money by predicting where elements may interfere with others, what order projects need to be completed, and how those models help district facilities staff troubleshoot when maintaining the new buildings. Students also learned how different project crews interact with each other to inform decision-making.
The students also engaged in a practical discussion about careers in the construction industry. Construction staff talked about their typical work schedule and salary, how and why they got into the work, and how they worked their way up to areas of greater responsibility. They also shared advice on the next steps for students interested in getting into the industry.
Participating in real-world learning provided students with a direct opportunity to learn how careers in construction can provide job security, the ability to be outdoors and get physical activity as part of their work, and a sense of accomplishment.
District Construction Program
The program is a two-year Career Technical Education program to prepare students for careers in the skilled trades. In addition to core content, students develop woodworking, metalworking, drafting, and automobile skills in year one. In year 2, students design and build micro shelters donated to Unity Shelter to provide housing for people in our community. Students leave the program with a high school diploma and are career-ready.
For more information on district bond projects, visit the bond program website.