Turning classroom concepts into construction skills
- Course spotlight: Construction Management 19L — Integrated Construction Lab
- Department: Department of Construction Management
- College: Lyles College of Engineering
- Professor: Dr. Wei Wu Graduate
- Teaching Assistant: Kiran Induri
- Course description:
In this course, students go beyond the classroom and into the lab, stepping onto the job site as part of a team and turning blueprints into tangible structures. Guided by experienced graduate teaching assistants, undergraduate students master safety protocols, manage complex budgets and operate a full range of equipment — from power saws to hand tools — all with the goal of building a completed wood structure that meets rigorous quality standards.
This applied learning approach builds more than just projects; it builds confidence.
“We want them actually to fail sometimes, and to know there are certain ways to do this project better in the future,” said Dr. Wei Wu, construction management professor.
This philosophy ensures mistakes become lessons and challenges become opportunities. It’s a key reason graduates are so well-prepared for careers as project managers, estimators or superintendents — and why they often receive multiple job offers with competitive starting salaries by the time they graduate.
Written by Victoria Cisneros Soto (‘19, ‘21); Video by Jeff Phillips (‘11)
