Leaving Their Mark: Internship Provides Students Work Experience on SECCM Labs Project

Construction management students Chris Bartorelli and Julia Pateman gain professional experience working with Shawmut Design and Construction on the SECCM Labs project

By Courtney Dell'Agnese '19 & Kindell Brown
Chris Batorelli and Julia Pateman
Interns Chris Bartorelli '19 (left) and Julia Pateman '21 on-site for SECCM Labs project.

BRISTOL, R.I. 鈥 As the grinding clash of massive steel beams coming together pierces the walls of the construction trailer, sophomore Julia Pateman examines shop drawings and material data submitted from subcontractors while senior Chris Bartorelli marks up floor plans with last-minute changes. While most students and staff aren鈥檛 allowed in the construction area, these two construction management majors were working with on the SECCM Labs construction project during the fall semester.

As part of a 鈥渓iving laboratory鈥 experience, 澳门六合彩 and Shawmut have partnered to create real-world learning opportunities for students during construction of a new laboratories building for the School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management (SECCM). And one of those unique opportunities includes working with Shawmut Design and Construction in paid internships.

As the first interns on this project, Pateman and Bartorelli collaborated with project manager Justin Bernard and project superintendent Greg Curran on everything from taking meeting minutes to writing the superintendent鈥檚 daily log and even going over project details with subcontractors. Throughout this first phase of the project, Bartorelli and Pateman have gained skills and knowledge in managing a large construction project from the ground up.

Chris looking at construction drawings
Chris marks last-minute floor plan changes.

鈥淚鈥檝e gained experience in every single little aspect of the field from estimating to project management to being an onsite superintendent, so I鈥檝e learned all the different niches and have a better idea of what I like to do,鈥 said Bartorelli. 鈥淭hen when I go into the real world, I know where I can excel and expertize.鈥

Pateman, who had just begun her sophomore year, says this experience has allowed her to apply what she鈥檚 learning in the classroom, which will put her a step ahead of other graduates when applying for jobs in the future.

鈥淲hen going into job fairs and employers see a young person with two or three internships like this, they鈥檙e more eager to hire you,鈥 Pateman said. 鈥淎nd especially as a woman in construction it brings even more benefits. I got invited to a 鈥榃omen in Construction鈥 conference in January and I don鈥檛 think that would have happened had I not had internship experiences.鈥

Both students emphasize that receiving this type of in-depth, hands-on experience during their undergraduate careers has prepared them to step right into the field after graduation. However, they also give credit to the construction management faculty for guiding and supporting them along the way.

Taking advantage of the 鈥渓iving laboratory鈥 right in their backyard, many construction management professors have incorporated the SECCM Labs project into their coursework, says Pateman. But they do more than just incorporate real-world experiences in their classroom. They actively help students gain their own work experience.

Julia works on submittal trackings
Julia checks submittals from subcontractors.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 pinpoint one specific professor because they鈥檝e all been super helpful. Professor Brunnhoeffer, who recently retired, pushed me academically. Professor Emmer who I鈥檝e had all three semesters now and would consider him a friend of mine. And of course, Professor Seymour who got me in contact with Shawmut to get this internship,鈥 Pateman said. 鈥淭here are many people in the program that are excited to teach you the ways of the land and eager to help you get jobs.鈥

Mentorship and support are just some of the many ways the construction management faculty help prepare students for success after 澳门六合彩. Each semester they put together a specialized construction management career fair and frequently invite guest lecturers to speak to the students about potential internship and career opportunities.

鈥淭hey very much want to see you succeed and will push you to your limit to perform your best,鈥 Bartorelli said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have an internship, they will reach out to people they know and help you find one. They want to see all of us do at least one internship and get that work experience.鈥

As final exams marked the end of the fall semester, they left their own legacy on 澳门六合彩鈥檚 campus. During the SECCM Labs steel 鈥渢opping-off鈥 ceremony, Pateman and Bartorelli watched the overhead crane lift the final steel beam 鈥 one which they added their signatures to, along with many 澳门六合彩 community members 鈥 to create the building鈥檚 frame, celebrating a beloved tradition in the construction industry and marking the end of a major phase and the beginning of another.