One of the toughest hurdles to overcome in construction education is the varying levels of construction field experience among undergraduate students. Although an internship is a common construction management requirement, it is often completed after students complete classes in planning and scheduling. This poses a challenge for the modern…

The highest rate of accidents and injuries in British industries has been reported by the construction industry during the past decade. Since then stakeholders have recognised that a possible solution would be to inculcate a good attitude towards health and safety risk management in undergraduate civil engineering students and construction…

Few students get the opportunity to experience real-life scenarios with all the accompanying complications and loopholes. In Palmetto High School, Florida, students have the chance to practice real life skills through running a business, which affords them the chance to gain the knowledge and understanding that usually only comes from lifelong…

As a result of their own sometimes frustrating educational experiences, and a growing discontent with their current teaching methods, the authors, in conjunction with another instructor, decided to try an experiment. With the goal of enhancing visualization and understanding, the instructors created several multi-path educational paths for the…

The fourteenth article in a series following a single building project (the expansion and renovation of Longview Community College's Liberal Arts Building), describes the punch list process that concludes every building project. This list delineates issues for the contractor that, when addressed, transfer responsibility to the owner. (EV)

Discusses cost reduction management conducted at Longview Community College's (MO) liberal arts building project. Developing options to reduce costs for future phases and refining the project design are discussed. (GR)

In a competitive bid situation, the general contractor's first priority is controlling construction costs. The actions the general contractor take focus on adequate control, effective communication, efficient use of resources, and prevention of delays. (MLF)

Describes characteristics, responsibilities, and at-risk functions of professional school-construction managers. Describes Arizona's use of school-construction managers. (PKP)

This paper, Part 3 of a three-part series examining the boom in the construction and renovation of K-12 schools and the continuing challenges that communities face in getting the facilities their students and educators need, describes the demanding career aspects of school administrators who oversee construction projects. Building schools requires…

Those who work in the multi-billion-dollar construction industry routinely face uncertainty and risks related to cost, schedule and safety. One of the most common problems is failing to complete a project on time and within budget. This seems to be magnified for school and university projects--education institutions often limited budgets, and…

Managing complex capital construction projects provides formidable challenges to school leaders. Increasing enrollment, new state mandates, aging schools and the need for technology-rich environments are issues that require both more space and better quality facilities. Short-handed district leadership teams already find themselves more than fully…

Recent economic and legislative changes have hit higher education hard and threaten the financial viability of many educational programs nationwide. With state support dwindling to less than 10 percent in some cases, institutions across the nation face a financial crisis. Many strategies have been explored and implemented, from campaigns to…

Using local contractors for construction work benefits the community by keeping money in the area and reducing the cost of imported management and labor. To accomplish this, the construction management firm must have the commitment to working with the local contractors throughout the entire design, bidding, and construction period. (MLF)

Successful completion of a construction project requires the efforts of a team composed of the owner, architect, and contractor. A preconstruction conference can clarify the roles of the team as specified in the design contract. (MLF)

Identifies procedures that help reduce cost over-runs on school construction projects. (MLF)