About 80 Poudre High School students toured the construction site of the Nancy Richardson Design Center at CSU on Oct. 26, after spending the morning with the Department of Construction Management.

The students, who are enrolled in a Geometry in Construction class, visited the site to learn how the construction skills they are acquiring can be used beyond high school.

“In our class students build a home, but seeing large-scale construction is always so much more epic and inspiring,” said Nathan Savig, the instructor of the course. “Also, as a teacher, I can only tell my students so much, but someone from industry teaching them is so much more interesting and impactful.”

CM activities

Prior to visiting the site, the students participated in activities with members of the construction management department, including building a replica of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge with LEGO bricks and performing an exercise using gumdrops and toothpicks. They enjoyed lunch on The Oval before heading to the Nancy Richardson Design Center.

The Department of Construction Management hosts visits and activities for various high school groups to help students learn and explore academic and professional opportunities in the construction industry.

The Poudre High School students’ visit was coordinated by CSU Facilities Design and Construction, the Department of Construction Management and Saunders Heath. The new building is scheduled to open in January.

The Nancy Richardson Design Center and the Department of Construction Management are part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.