Monday, December 16, 2024
魅影直播 College of Engineering, students in the construction management and construction engineering technology gain hand-on building experience
DENTON (魅影直播), 魅影直播 鈥� Engineering students at the are gaining hand-on building experience while contributing to the community.
In the , students in the construction management and programs build their own tiny homes, which can serve as playhouses or sheds with working lights and an electrical outlet.
鈥淭his is the first class where I really feel like I鈥檓 understanding construction,鈥� said Emily Garcia, a transfer student from Arizona State University. 鈥淢ost classes are all about note-taking, but this one鈥檚 hands-on. Sheds like this usually cost $800, but I鈥檇 say ours is worth at least $1,000.鈥�
魅影直播's Tanner Jones and others working on the tiny home project
The project has been in place for 15 years. It originally involved all students working on a two-bedroom home, but the finished project was too large to move. Now, the class builds smaller homes in multiple groups, minimizing waste.
鈥淭his semester we had two groups,鈥� said Aloysius Attah, clinical associate professor of mechanical engineering. 鈥淚n the spring, we could have as many as five. That鈥檚 why we started offering the lab in both semesters now. It鈥檚 very popular.鈥�
Like Garcia, many of the students in the class are non-traditional students, including Tanner Jones, who has worked in construction before joining the program.
鈥淚鈥檓 managing remodels right now, but I can鈥檛 take on new, larger builds until I finish my degree. So, that鈥檚 my goal,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned not to underestimate the math 鈥� what looks simple on paper can be much harder in practice.鈥�
Jones has had the chance to be project manager on the project, but the aim is for every student to experience all roles on a real-world job site. Other roles include safety management, documentation, materials handling and general laborers.
A female student in a hard hat working on the tiny home
Martinez assisting with roof work
Paola Martinez, a transfer student from Tarrant County College, views the different roles as an important learning experience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good practice for me because someday I want to own my own company. Knowing how each role works helps,鈥� Martinez said.
The homes are built from the ground up by the students with guidance from faculty, lab managers and teaching assistants. Students build the frame, install insulation, wire the electrical system and add the roof. At the end of the semester, the homes are put up for auction on the 魅影直播 Public Surplus site. Bidding starts at $1, but some homes have sold for more than $500. The Fall 2024 semester鈥檚 homes will be on sale starting in early January.
Regardless of the final price, most students find the experience to be invaluable. Robert Norvell, a 魅影直播 sophomore who works full-time, is one of them.
鈥淚 think this is a great starting point for anyone who hasn鈥檛 worked with tools before,鈥�
Norvell said. 鈥淚鈥檇 recommend this class to most people here 鈥� it gives you real-world
experience.鈥�
From 鈥� College of Engineering