
Professors get a hands-on day of learning from
PCL’s industry professionals.

PCL hosted a jobsite tour for the
professors at the Arrivé high-rise
residences.
Knowledge
Learned is Knowledge Gained
During Seattle’s “Faculty Day,”
PCL’s subject matter experts, including a construction modeling manager,
construction manager, and the national Lean manager, discussed topics that included
jobsite technology, construction modeling, Lean construction practices, and
high-rise structural systems. Additionally, a jobsite tour was held for the
professors at the Arrivé high-rise residences, currently under construction in
Seattle’s downtown Belltown neighborhood. Professors had the opportunity to
speak with the project staff about industry trends and learn more about how to
keep up with the pace and use of technology in construction.
“PCL provided the faculty a day
filled with knowledge and information,” said P. Warren Plugge, PhD, an associate
professor from Central Washington University. “Most importantly, information
acquired from this day can be used within my courses to excite students, not
just about PCL, but about the construction industry as a whole – from a field,
office, and management perspective.”
Plugge was one of nearly a dozen
educators who took part in the “Faculty Day,” including professors from various
Washington, Colorado, and California universities. This was the first time PCL
held this type of event for educators. It was created out of a need to deepen
relationships with key faculty at the top schools and provide real-world
examples that can be taken back to the classroom. As a company committed to
education, PCL intends to continue hosting “Faculty Days” for the educational
institutions that build our future leaders.
Preparing
the Industry’s Future
PCL places a high value on giving
back to the community as well as on continued education. It does this in
various ways, from hiring industry experts to offering education opportunities
to employees, to creating a robust nationwide college program that offers
internships to students in construction management, engineering, marketing, accounting,
and communications.
“We’re so pleased to have a chance
to really contribute something to the professors, and to the universities, that
will help them better prepare our industry’s future workforce,” said Felicia
Bawdon, human resources manager for PCL’s Seattle office. “By keeping our
educators in the know about industry trends and jobsite technologies, we can
help feed the industry pipeline with graduates who are better prepared for jobs
in construction.”