THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 2021 ABC LSU CM TEAM
By: Brian Hooks, Triad Electric & Controls
Merit Shop Message | Spring 2021
Every Year ABC National hosts a Construction Management competition for college students to compete in across the country. The teams are issued a real-life bid package that is currently being built somewhere in the country, typically near the location of the ABC National Convention. Past projects have included a hospital in Texas, a hotel in Florida, and a school renovation in California. Step one of the competition includes the team working over a six-week period to create a company, estimate the project, create safety/quality/execution plans, and submit their completed proposal. Step two is typically held at the National Convention where the teams compete in an exercise where they are given an addendum and have six hours to submit their revised price. The teams submitted proposal package along with the addendum exercise are scored and the shortlisted teams are then given the opportunity to participate in the final step of the competition. In step threethe teams are given the opportunity to present
37
to the judges and complete a question and answer session with the judges. Six years ago, the ABC Pelican Young Professionals Committee partnered with the LSU Construction Management Department in an effort to act as mentors to the ABC Pelican Student Chapter Team. The joint effort between LSU Construction Management and the Young Professionals has strengthened through the years. The students are required to go through an interview process with YP’s to be chosen to join the team. During the six-week bid phase of the competition the students are required to complete at least 65 hours of participation, or 130 hours over a two-year period. This competition gives students the ability to learn and compete in a real-life setting. This has become a way for a group of devoted individuals to gain experience before they graduate and pursue their careers in the construction industry.
