Participants in CM Cares, the community service-learning initiative in Colorado State University’s Department of Construction Management, completed two more projects this fall with accessibility improvements.

CM Cares has completed over 35 projects throughout northern Colorado over more than a decade with the generous support of donors through time, labor, funding, and in-kind contributions. There was much to celebrate during the CM Cares presentations in December as the projects wrapped up for the fall semester.

The Wiley Acres project

Wiley Acres is a non-profit farm providing activities for developmentally disabled adults. It enables adults living with physical and developmental disabilities to participate in farm therapy activities with rescued animals, facilitating meaningful human-animal interactions.

The organization needed restroom facilities that include an adult changing table, along with construction of public toilets accessible during three seasons of the year.

Project scope and progression

The team began by focusing on the earthwork that included the building layout, setting the 100’ elevation, dealing with unforeseen circumstances – namely, giant tree roots – working with existing conditions, and relying on the expertise of industry partners.

Next, the team laid the foundation, installed the mechanical, electrical and plumbing access, and erected the structure itself. Key steps entailed: contracting subcontractors, avoiding blowouts, checking anchor bolts, tying rebar, squaring the building, determining roof pitch, focusing on door frames, timbers, hold-downs, and again relying on the expertise of industry partners.

Demonstrating one of the primary learning outcomes intended for the course, CM Cares student, Walker Polhamus said, “Whether it’s a skyrise or small structure like this, I realize the importance of structural planning and subcontractor coordination.”

The administrators at Wiley Acres are thrilled with the results. “This project is a game-changer for us! It’s having the breakthrough for those in mobility devices now being able to participate.”

Completion in spring

The last phase of the project will focus on finishes: inspection preparation, framing quality control, protecting the finished project, coordinating industry subcontractors, and relying on the expertise of industry partners.

This project is still under construction and will be completed next semester with a returning CM Cares student working to complete the final finish work.

       

The Iker Family project

Iker is 11 years old and lives with several challenging health conditions that impact his ability to walk and take care of himself. This project’s goal was focusing on Iker’s family being able to assist him in and out of the house and providing additional resources for caregivers attending to his daily living needs.

The initiative is a residential improvement project that includes an accessible wheelchair ramp with a deck located in the front entrance of the home. Additionally, the family sought a chair-lift system in the house, to assist Iker and his caregivers with mobility on the stairs. This CM Cares project was completed ahead of schedule, and being located in Greeley, it expanded the reach of CM Cares in northern Colorado.

Meet Iker

Iker, an 11-year-old boy, has a history of congenital quadriplegia cerebral palsy, hypotonia, restrictive lung disease, hip subluxation, scoliosis, and development delay.

As a non-ambulatory, non-verbal individual, Iker is completely dependent on his family for all his care. For his mobility, he relies on a power wheelchair or an adaptive stroller.

Project scope

The scope included:

• Building an accessible ramp into the home.
• Designing and building a small deck to allow Iker and a caregiver to sit outside.
• Installing a chair lift to Iker’s bedroom on the second floor of his home.

Material and labor donations required and received included:

• Composite decking material
• Lumber package for ramp and deck
• Concrete for deck structure
• Chairlift system – price reduction
• Deck design – by CM’s own Mike O’Reilly, Master Instructor

     

CM Cares student team for fall 2023

Back row, left to right:
Walker Polhamus, Carlos Aceves, Carson Oldemeyer
Middle row, left to right:
Emilio Montano, Ethan Cheung, Trevor Wahl, Joel Ibarra
Front row, left to right:
Ricky Roman-Acevedo, Nathan Maloney, Jesse Amrein

One CM Cares student commented on his motivation for being involved, “I grew up with a mother in a wheelchair, so I understand the challenges.”

Acknowledgements and appreciation

CM Cares projects are only possible through the donated hours of labor and the generous contributions of many:
PCL Construction – volunteer on-site and concrete donor
Jones Concrete, LLC – volunteer on-site
GH Phipps Construction – volunteer on-site
BNBuilders
Brinkman Constructors
Calcon Constructors
Cedar Supply Lumber Company, Fort Collins
CFM Company
Elemental Homes
FCI Constructors
Ferguson Plumbing
Front Range Roofing Systems, LLC
Gregory Electric Inc.
JVA Consulting Engineers
Kiewit
Kraemer North America
Matheus Lumber
Morning Star Elevator
Mountain West Disposal
RockSol Consulting Group, Inc.
Sunbelt Rentals
Sunstate Equipment Company
Swinerton
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
US Engineering
Wagner CAT
Whiting-Turner
ZGL
CM faculty member, Mike O’Reilly – last but by no means least. O’Reilly logs countless hours of “sweat equity” with his expert design work, project planning, execution, and delivery. He works alongside students and encourages them as much with his presence as he does with his expertise. Dubbed by the CM Cares students as “the man – the myth – the legend,” both project participants and beneficiaries express gratitude to O’Reilly for supporting their success.

About CM Cares

CM Cares is a community service-learning initiative that infuses leadership traits, team building and ethics through community service activities. More than 35 projects have been completed since the program’s inception in 2010.

CSU students in the Construction Management program complete a leadership course and manage construction-related projects that provide physical improvements to accommodate special needs, such as building wheelchair ramps or making bathrooms more accessible.

CM Cares is dependent on philanthropic efforts through continued contributions to the CM Cares Endowment. Donations to the CM Cares Endowment may be made online.

For more information, visit the CM Cares website or contact Khristy Jesse at khristy.jesse@colostate.edu.

The Department of Construction Management is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.