Quoin Fall 2015

b sci vo l u m e 2 5 fal l 2 0 1 5

the newsletter of the m c whorter school of building science in the college of architecture, design and construction at auburn university photography: Stephen DeVries

PHOTOGR AMMETRY the impressive science behind

3D MODEL S A ND IM AGE S

BUILD YOUR FUTURE

at au b u r n u n i v e r s i t y

auburn.edu/cmcertificate

Pursue Graduate Executive Certificates in Construction Management CERTIFICATES OFFERED 1. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: Estimating, Scheduling, Contracts & Law 2. TECHNICAL ISSUES: BIM, Electrical, Mechanical & Plumbing 3. INTEGRATED PROCESSES: Pre-construction, Project Management, Leadership

Two Courses x Two Semesters* = One Certificate

*One week residency per semester

McWHORTER SCHOOL OF BUILDING SCIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Contact us at cadc.communications@auburn.edu or 1-334-844-4518.

Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.

ta b l e

of

contents

ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

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message from school he ad

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alumni profile: greer gall ager

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ccic

PAUL HOLLEY

Wilborn Professor for Senior Faculty

SALMAN AZHAR

Wilborn Professor for Emerging Scholars

BEN FARROW

Hunt Professor

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v ision for e xcel l ence : BECAUSE THIS IS AUBURN

a cc r ed i tat i o n c o u n c i l a d o p t s

Th e

w o r d i s m a n a g e m e n t. . . a s i n

construc tion management

ANOOP SATTINENI

SCOTT KRAMER

r e s p o n d i n g a n d e v o lv i n g a s

n e w s ta n d a r d s

12 Bob Aderholdt Professor

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m e g a - t r e n d s e v o lv e

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s t u d e n t n e w s : COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

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f a c u lt y r e s e a r c h : p h o t o g r a m m e t r y

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SPRING c a r e e r e x p o

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iac highlight: skip loman

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f a c u lt y n e w s

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e v e n t : 2 0 15 ANN U AL AWARDS B AN Q U ET

Atlanta BSCI Alumni Professor

quoin richard burt, Head and McWhorter Endowed Chair colleen bourdeau, CADC Communications & Marketing Director marcelo bl anco, CADC Graphic Designer c a ssandr a c alloway, Career Services Specialist Contributors

l atha bhavnani, stephanie bond, Ben Farrow, Stephen DeVries, ABC-Al abama .

The Quoin is published twice a year

by Auburn U niversit y ’s College of Architecture, Design & Construction.

Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved.

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mes sag e f rom

the

school head

photography: Stephen DeVries

d r . r i c h a r d b u r t, SCHOOL H E AD & M CWHORTER EN DOWED CHAIR

M

y message this semester is a bit different from previous editions of Quoin in that its focus is on one issue: what is a good name to call our programs and our school?

I offer you some contextual perspective that amplifies why this discussion is important and timely. Auburn University has been awarding degrees in building construction for more than 70 years.

Beginning in 1944, the Bachelor of Building Construction degree was awarded to those successfully completing the program. This was later changed to the degree currently awarded—Bachelor of Science in Building Construction.

The construction program has had a few different names since its inception.

Beginning as an “Administrative Option” in civil engineering (1928) and then as a “Building Construction Option” in architecture, the program gained stand-alone status in 1956 and was known as the Department of Building Technology.

In 1975, this was changed to the Department of Building Science and remained the same until the department was elevated to school status and renamed in 2008 becoming the McWhorter School of Building Science. There has been some discussion—but no consensus—that the name “building science” does not accurately reflect our educational mission and

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that the name “construction management” is more reflective of what we do.

My concern is that if “building science” does not accurately reflect our educational mission and what our students do, it might not be helping us attract good students from outside the area where our “brand” is well known. An additional consideration is that our current nomenclature is three different names for essentially what is one distinct domain of study.

Hence we are seeking your input and guidance on this topic. Would you, please, take a few minutes to share your thoughts and complete the confidential survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/Auburn_BSCI_namechange

CURRENT NAMES USED IN THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE: Name of College College of Architecture, Design & Construction

Name of School McWhorter School of Building Science

Name of Undergraduate Program Building Science

Name of Undergraduate Major Building Science

Name on Undergraduate Degree Bachelor of Science in Building Construction

The password to complete the survey is Name of Graduate Major “wareagle.” If you experience any prob- Building Science lems do not hesitate to contact me by Name on Graduate Degree email at: rab0011@auburn.edu I look forward to reporting to you the Master of Building Construction results of the survey and any subsequent decision regarding the name of the school Name of Graduate Certificates • Executive Certificate in in a future edition of Quoin.

Construction Management

War Eagle!

• Executive Technical Certificate in Construction Management

Richard

• Executive Integrated Processes Certificate in Construction Management

BUILDING WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FO R ME al u mni prof ile: greer gallagher

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t seemed like a random choice at first, but I was influenced by a family friend enjoying her major at Georgia Tech and thought her career choice was fascinating,” said Greer Gallagher, director of Interior Construction at Holder Construction Company. “I liked the idea of my hard work resulting in something tangible. My mom also persuaded me to select a major that would give me a marketable skill set upon graduating.”

Gallagher credits her success in the Building Science program to her predilection to math and science, her strong subjects in high school. “I loved the tight-knit, family feel of the Building Science program. The professors were always willing to help and were interested in building relationships with their students. I was in many classes with a great group of students who all went through the program together, which made it fun to go to class every day and work on projects together.”

While she was a student in Auburn, Gallagher completed two internships, one with Upchurch Construction Company in Montgomery and another with Holder Construction Company in Atlanta.

According to Gallagher, the internship with Upchurch Construction had to satisfy two personal requirements, one was that she stay in Auburn for the summer, and another to confirm her feeling that she was in the right program and that she liked the industry. “I was able to observe what it meant to be a project manager,”

she said. “I got to experience a typical day, which reinforced my desire to pursue a career in construction.”

Her second internship was with Holder Construction Company, working in their preconstruction department. “I enjoyed this internship, as I was treated like a new associate and given a lot of responsibility and opportunity to learn in a short amount of time. The program was very structured and accustomed to integrating interns into the project teams.” As an intern with Holder, Gallagher worked on a data center project in the DC area and on Cox’s new corporate headquarters building in Atlanta.

“I believe internships are invaluable,” said Gallagher. “They give students the opportunity to ‘test drive’ the career they are studying before getting too far down the road and realizing it isn’t what they thought it would be. Internships are a great learning experience and give students a head start on both their future building science classes, as well as their fulltime career upon graduation.”

When she graduated from Auburn, Gallagher felt she was very prepared to enter the real world of construction.

Building science classes are structured to meet the needs of the employers and to give students diverse perspectives and a solid base to build their career. “Of course, there is always a lot to learn in a new job, but Auburn prepared me with a solid foundation to build upon.” she added.

Gallagher started her career with Holder after enjoying her internship with the company. “I saw that Holder was an organization that had the right culture, and I would always be proud to be a part of this amazing company.” As director of Interior Construction at Holder, Gallagher says every day is different, “Which is why I love my role so much!”

As director, her role is to provide overall leadership and management of the Interiors Department. “Reputation is everything! Construction is a very tight knit community, and it is so important

to build strong relationships with your clients, design partners and trade contractors. “I also try and have fun on my projects and encourage my teams to have fun on the job as well. Fostering a positive/ collaborative atmosphere on each project is very important.”

T h e I nte r i o r ’s d e p a r tm e nt h a s expanded to more than 30 associates, and we perform work across the nation for repeat clients,” Gallagher said. Her current projects include a large interior renovation/addition for Cox Automotive, interior build-out of a new office building for State Farm in Atlanta, several high end residential projects for a repeat client, and the New Stadium Project for the Atlanta Falcons.

When she is not working on her projects, Gallagher stays busy with her involvement in several industry organizations. In addition to serving as the chair of the programs committee for CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), she is also involved in CoreNet, CEFGA (Construction Education Foundation of Georgia), AGC Metro Alliance for Workforce Development, and the Downtown Atlanta Construction Consortium.

What does she miss most about Auburn? “My tight-knit group of friends and professors Steve Williams and Dr. Bob Aderholdt. I miss Auburn football but hope to start coming back for some games, now that my kids are old enough to make it through a half!”

“I got to experience a typical day, which reinforced my desire to pursue a career in construction.”

— greer gallagher

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R E S P O N D I N G A N D E V O LV I N G A S M E G A T R E N D S E V O LV E center for construction, innovation and collaboration

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he Center for Construction Innovation and Collaboration takes pride in academic excellence and understanding the importance of collaborative process in order to form strong relationships with students, industry, product producers, and other academic institutions. It focuses on innovative approaches to problems and processes, while maintaining core values centered on sustainability and impact on built environments. CCIC’s vision is based on the need to encourage cutting-edge research that enriches the programs and support the best practices of the evolving construction industry.

Every year, the Center seeks proposals from faculty in November and grants awards in January. This year, it plans to modify its cycle. By aligning the grant cycle with the start of the academic year, the Center hopes the grants will enable new faculty to start their appointment with resources for their research. Proposals are being sought from the three schools in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

The 2015 grants were awarded to five faculty members in the McWhorter School of Building Sciences. These projects were selected for their value to the construction industry. The projects involve investigations of virtual reality, augmented reality, photogrammetry, vocal ergonomics, and Alabama legislation and program development for owners and contractors.

Associate Professor Salman Azhar received a CCIC grant for investigating applications of virtual reality headsets for immersive 3D environment for construction safety and jobsite management. Virtual Reality (VR) sometimes referred to as “immersive environment” is a computer-generated 3D environment that can simulate the real world environment. According to Azhar, a user wearing VR headsets can feel the same experience as he or she would in the real world.

“The project used an Oculus Rift® headset, due to its versatility, low cost, and better integration with construction applications,” Azhar said. “The headset delivers a stereoscopic 3D view with smooth frame rates at high resolutions for immersive virtual reality. A gyroscopic sensor embedded in the headgear can track even a tiny rotation of the head so the view can

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change accordingly, while a 3D environment image is generated simultaneously on the connected computer.”

Azhar, and graduate students Mark Froehlich and Congwen Kan, investigated the applications of Oculus Rift in site safety planning; and jobsite management. The team selected Dudley Hall renovation project as a case study. As a first step, they developed a Building Information Model (BIM) of Dudley Hall before the renovation phase. The model presented construction and renovation of the building at different phases. It included placement of construction equipment, a crane, scaffolding, tools, vehicles, debris removal, jobsite trailer, and construction fencing, simulating the active jobsite. The BIM model was later converted into a 3D immersive model for view on Oculus Rift.

Several industry professionals and graduate students tested the model and provided feedback. “Feedback from participants suggested that there is a growing interest in learning more about VR headsets,” said Azhar. “Participants interacting with built scenarios and being able to identify key aspects as well as conflicts confirmed that VR was a viable option for streamlining construction safety and jobsite management processes.”

According to Azhar, many participants expressed interest in exploring beyond built scenarios, in understanding the surrounding site, and in promoting of site logistics training. “They also inquired about the headset, the hardware, and its similarities to existing game experiences,” he added.

“Although Oculus Rift® was originally designed for gaming,” Azhar said, “it has some exciting and intriguing non-gaming applications. It can be used in design and construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and military applications. Although Oculus Rift® has not yet been launched in the construction industry as a commercial product, visualization toolkits such as Unity 3D, Presagis Vega Prime and WorldViz have been made available to facilitate software prototyping. These toolkits enable the conversion of existing 3D BIM models to integrate with the Oculus Rift®.”

“Oculus Rift® offers advantages over traditional methods in the construction industry in four specific areas including health and safety training, virtual equipment maintenance training, cost effective alternative to large multi-projector displays, and visualization of BIM data.”

“The application of Virtual Reality Headsets in the construction industry has endless potential,” said Azhar. “Currently, the advantages and disadvantages limit their current widespread use in the industry. The ability to create a construction project and assess the jobsite in a VR environment before starting actual construction will change how construction is executed.

VR headsets have the potential to become the new standard for training and safety education. With the ability to add controllers, sensors and sound, we have not even begun to see the extent of what VR has to offer,” said Azhar.

“The purpose of these headsets is to create a simulated immersive environment that can help decision-makers in better understanding the situation and making more effective and informed decisions.”

— salman azhar

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VIS I O N F OR E X C ELLE N CE

BECAUSE THIS IS AUBURN —A CAMPAIGN FOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY is a $1 billion fundraising effort to propel our university forward through a renewed commitment to our students, a continued promise to our state, and a shared responsibility to the world. The success of reaching this goal depends on every member of the Auburn family and on every gift, large and small. Now is the time for every member of the Auburn Family to join together for the future of this institution.

As part of the overall $1 billion campaign, the College of Architecture, Design and Construction has committed to raise $26 million. For more than a century, the CADC has set the standards for architecture, design and construction education in the Southeast. The CADC with its three constituent programs—Architecture, Design and Construction—is regarded among the nation’s foremost for quality academic programs, applied research and outreach. Our compelling vision is for all our programs to be ranked within the top 10 nationally by 2020. As part of the CADC campaign, alumni and friends of the McWhorter School of Building Science have been entrusted with securing a portion of the overall CADC campaign goal.

The McWhorter School of Building Science takes pride in engaging students in emerging technologies and their application to the industry, while providing them hands-on construction opportunities. Our alumni occupy numerous leadership positions among the nation’s most respected contractors. Our goal is to provide our students training to become leaders in building information modeling and visualization technology, increasing experiential learning, and expanding access and opportunity for international study. Private support for virtual technology and 3D modeling labs, international and domestic service learning, and study abroad will enable the school to remain at the forefront of programs shaping construction management education, innovation, and outreach.

There is a rising need for scholarships, and as many of you know, there is no better investment than a scholarship for the next generation of our students. Our aspirational goal is to build our resources so that prospective students with the talent and ability to succeed in our programs will be able to enroll our school regardless of their financial need. Your gift will bring us closer to fulfilling the dreams of many of our students.

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The McWhorter School of Building Science is also seeking to increase the level of endowment designated to recruit and retain exceptional faculty. Competition is fierce among construction schools for qualified construction professionals with academic credentials. Alumni and industry investment in the men and women who will prepare the next generation of Auburn building science graduates is essential.

BECAUSE THIS IS AUBURN is an opportunity for our alumni and friends to ensure the McWhorter School of Building Science gains the financial resources needed to maintain the quality of our programs and grow our reputation. Each year the benchmark to compete is set higher, and your participation through giving helps guarantee our place at the vanguard of construction education. Through your enthusiastic support you are making transformation happen.

photography: Stephen DeVries

CADC PRIORITIES TOTAL GOAL $26.0 MILLION SELECT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

$1.0 million

FACILITIES

STUDENT COMPETITION TEAMS: ​$100,000 ANNUALLY

$2.5 million

$17.5 million

FACULTY

PROGRAMS

$5.0 million STUDENTS

Each year approximately 100 students participate in 10 to 12 student competitions nationally and internationally. Corporate sponsorships assist with presentation materials and technology and defray student and faculty travel expenses.

Signature Sponsorships: $10,000 each Various Sponsorship Levels: $500 to $5,000 FIELD LAB:​ $1.15 MILLION TOTAL

TO DATE $19.2 MILLION $3.9 million

$6.8 million

STUDENTS

REMAINING

$1.4 million FACULTY

$8,350

FACILITIES

$13.9 million

Naming Opportunity: $1 million (pending Board of Trustee approval) An endowment of this magnitude will produce approximately $40,000 to fund operating costs and allow us to permanently honor an alumnus or corporate partner, or someone of their choosing.

Equipment and Materials: $150,000 anually STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT:​$500,000 OR MORE

An endowment for study abroad scholarships would enable the McWhorter School to give tuition-assistance to students with strong academic performance who plan to participate in faculty-led study abroad programs.

As of 10/01/2015

PROGRAMS

WAYS TO GIVE Outright Gifts of Cash or Securities

For More Information, Please Contact DAR A HOSEY dara@auburn.edu

Pledges Paid Over Five Years

334-844-1161 or MELISSA DENNEY melissa@auburn.edu

Provision in Your Will or other Estate Vehicle to name a few

Transfers of Real Estate

334-844-5436 221 Dudley Hall Auburn, AL 36849

because.auburn.edu/cadc 9

ACCREDITATION COUNCIL ADOPTS NEW STANDARDS undergraduate program

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he McWhorter School of Building Science at Auburn University (BSCI) established in 1947, is the second oldest construction education program in the United States, with more than 3,000 graduates located worldwide, including many who lead the construction industry in the Southeast U.S. The school is currently made up of approximately 500 undergraduate students and 50 graduate students. BSCI maintains a proud tradition of practical and professional construction education, offering both Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Building Construction. An active member of the Associated Schools of Construction, BSCI is a leader in exploring Information Technology applications in construction and construction education. The Building Science program within the McWhorter School is one of the largest and most respected in the nation. Since the fall of 2014, graduating seniors have enjoyed a vibrant job market at the time of graduation.

The school is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), founded in the 1970s. In July of 2014, ACCE made a major shift in how it measures the work of accredited universities, by adopting new standards for accreditation. It moved from an hours-based approach to a learning-outcomes approach. The hours-based approach required schools to provide a specific number of hours in specific subject matter.

“The new learning-outcomes approach lists twenty “outcomes” graduates of our programs should meet at the time of graduation,” said Ben Farrow, Hunt Professor and associate professor in the McWhorter School of Building Science.

According to ACCE, the goal is to prepare graduates who can provide leadership roles in construction, and the curriculum should be responsive to social, economic and technical developments, and should reflect the application of evolving knowledge in construction and in the behavioral and quantitative sciences.In essence, ACCE requires students to be able to understand, analyze, create and apply several construction-related topics in the program when they graduate: •• ABILITY TO CREATE written communications and oral presentations appropriate to the construction discipline, a construction project safety plan, construction project cost estimates, construction project schedules.

•• ABILITY TO ANALYZE professional decisions based on ethical principles, construction documents for planning and management of construction processes, methods, materials, and equipment used to construct projects.

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•• ABILITY TO APPLY construction management skills as an effective member of a multi-disciplinary team, electronic-based technology to manage the construction process and basic surveying techniques for construction layout and control.

•• AND AN ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND different methods of project delivery and the roles and responsibilities of all constituencies involved in the design and construction process, construction risk management, construction accounting and cost control, construction quality assurance and control, construction project control processes, legal implications of contract, common, and regulatory law to manage a construction project, basic principles of sustainable construction, basic principles of structural behavior, and the basic principles of mechanical, electrical and plumbing system.

Building Science faculty are currently reviewing the curriculum to determine what changes need to be made to help students meet the demands of the new “learning outcomes” approach. According to Farrow, although the program teaches all of the twenty at some level now, there are probably four or five of them that will need adjustments because they elevate the level of topic as currently delivered. “Challenges include how we will measure and document student performance in outcomes as well as what areas our current curriculum may lack needed subject matter. This summer, representatives of the McWhorter School of Building Science held two industry meetings to obtain input from construction professionals who hire our students on possible curriculum changes,” said Farrow.

“These events were held in Atlanta at the office of J.E. Dunn, and in Birmingham at the office of Brasfield & Gorrie. Over twenty industry professionals from twelve different companies participated. As we continue to examine our curriculum in light of the challenges of the twenty learning outcomes, we anticipate more involvement of industry and current students.”

Farrow added, “We have until 2019 to implement the requested upgrades in the program. The faculty will address these requirements and fine-tune the implementation as we approach the deadline,” added Farrow.

ACCE requires students to be able to understand, analyze, create and apply several constructionrelated topics in the program when they graduate.

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THE WORD IS MANAGEMENT... AS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT construction management cer tificates

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onstruction education as a concept is relatively new, only developed since 1945. The construction world then depended on civil engineers who could design. With trending technology, it wasn’t enough to only design and build. It now takes people who can manage communication, technical site safety, design, management, and the business. There is a global shortage of construction management professionals.

The McWhorter School of Building Science has offered a graduate certificate program in construction management since 1993. The program continues to grow and develop research opportunities, strong industry relations, and excellent academic content. These 12-credit certificate programs are designed for students who are looking for an introduction to comprehensive construction management topics such as estimating and scheduling. Enrollment in the program is limited to provide sufficient faculty support, which helps students meet their educational objectives.

In 2009, McWhorter School of Building Science initiated a custom program for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, to train them to manage construction programs. According to Anoop Sattineni, associate professor and director of the custom-designed program, the certificate program in construction management was first created to train students in the basics of construction as a field, where they were given a quick primer on the industry, plans and specifications, materials and methods and estimating a contract.

The school has now expanded to offer the same course material and work to anyone interested in construction management as three graduate certificate programs in construction management. According to Sattineni, construction depends on the economy. “Since the economy has picked up, there is a boom in construction everyone wants in, but many don’t have the requisite background. They want to learn, to get a degree in construction management,” Sattineni said.

“For the first time since the program started, we have advertised in the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., in the American General Contractors, and the Delta Sky magazines.

The Delta Sky magazine features two of our alums, Brandon Riddick Seals with Braswell & Gorrie, and Greer Gallagher who

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“A u b u r n h a s s e v e r a l y e a r s o f exp e rie nce because the program was custom-designed.“ — anoop sattineni

works for Holder Construction, Inc. These advertisements have generated a lot of interest.”

“For the first time this year, anybody interested in construction management can apply. We currently have eight to ten people in the program who are not associated with the Army Corps of Engineers. Nearly 50 students who have already graduated have obtained master’s degrees, and more than 70 have received certificates. Some of these 70 students are pursuing their master’s degree. Our next term will admit 20-25 students, with only 14 being from the Army Corps of Engineers,” added Sattineni.

The certificate programs are unique in that as executive programs, students don’t have to quit their jobs to go to school.

All it requires is an interest in learning, some background in the construction industry, responsibility in construction, and getting the required skills. According to Sattineni, interested students can take the three certificate programs and add the capstone requirement to graduate with a master’s degree in construction management.

“Auburn has several years of experience because the program was custom-designed for the Army Corps of Engineers,” Sattineni said. “Students take two courses (3 credits each) a semester. The program has many advantages over other programs offered in the country. It is not entirely online. It is a hybrid program that includes residential, online face-to-face contact for two hours a week with faculty, and a third component that includes supplementary information, lectures and assignments.

“We are trying to expand our reach to students beyond the United States. We have learned that there is a great need for construction management education in South and Central America. We have discovered that their needs are two-fold: a master’s program in construction areas (a skill set to manage the construction process), and an opportunity to teach them.

We would like to be the campus South and Central Americans come to for construction education.”

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ST U D E N T N E W S cooperative education

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he McWhorter School of Building Sciences encourages students to get their co-op experience when they are in school. In the modern day ultra-competitive world, a co-op experience is increasingly becoming a necessity. It is a step towards exploring a variety of career interests and getting a dream job. Come graduation day, students gain a diploma and a “real-world” job experience.

“Although Co-Op is not mandatory for any academic major, there are three tracks available to undergraduate BSCI students referred to as co-op track,” says Kim Durbin, director of the Auburn Cooperative Education Program. “Students enrolled in this option begin BSCI professional program classes during the summer. Immediately following this summer of academic classes, a very high percentage of these students work the first of three co-op work semesters during the fall.”

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a beginning

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yler Deal who is completing his first semester in building science, will start his co-op experience working with JE Dunn Construction Company in Fall 2015, in Atlanta.

“I had heard about the co-op program from friends and other students before I even got to Auburn. When I transferred to Auburn, I came with a purpose: I knew I wanted to pursue a degree in Building Science and go through the co-op program.”

According to Durbin, co-op students observe professionals working in their chosen field. They have the opportunity to experience knowledge being applied in business, industrial, and government settings. “This unique opportunity helps students decide early in their academic education whether they have chosen the right vocation,” said Durbin.

Deal believes Interview Day had a special feel. “The co-op program asked students to choose five companies to interview with. After several rounds of interviews and offers, and a great deal of thought, I chose to work with JE Dunn Construction.

The decision could have a lasting impact on my future,” Deal added.

“I believe the co-op program is a huge benefit for students.

Students go to school for four semesters, and then get real world experience and training for three semesters. They get a break from the classroom and an opportunity to potentially have a job waiting for them when they graduate.”

“I believe the co-op program is a huge benefit for students .”

— tyler deal

a future

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ucile Hutchinson graduated in summer 2015. Hutchinson completed her co-op program with Brasfield & Gorrie, in Atlanta and Birmingham. Selected after her second interview, she worked on a jobsite under a project manager.

It was definitely a time where students gain professional skills and a better understanding of the workplace. “I learned a lot about the submittal process and document control on site as well as visualizing a building being put together for the first time. My next two semesters were in the estimating department, where I learned about the preconstruction process and got the opportunity to participate in bidding jobs I was working on. I was challenged every day by some great mentors and teachers, which definitely enhanced my experience,” Hutchinson said.

According to Hutchinson, participation in the program helped bridge the gap between her and her classmates who grew up with construction experience. “Each semester I would learn a new set of skills that would help me when I returned to school the following semester. I am now very confident, more at ease about starting and exceling in my new job.”

Co-op students agree that the greatest benefit received from participating in the program is that it improves employment prospects at graduation, a belief that Hutchinson can attest to, as she starts her new job with JE Dunn in Atlanta.

please send us your news The McWhorter School of Building Science alumni are achieving great things professionally and personally. Please email cadc.communications@auburn.edu with your news.

Send us news and photos of your professional successes (promotions, awards, etc.) and personal news (marriage, births, personal accomplishments, etc.), and we will include it in the next issue of the Quion.

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THE IMPRESSIVE SCIENCE BEHIND 3D MODELS AND IMAGES faculty research

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he construction industry operates in a sophisticated and complex 3D world today. Until recently, building plans had been limited to two-dimensional drawings that were used to communicate ideas for centuries. In recent decades, a perfect confluence of various technological elements brought a sophisticated means of translating such plans to create an imagery never before seen. Computer-aided design and drawing came into being as a result of more affordable hardware and software capable of accurately producing graphic objects. The fabrication of portable computing devices and 3D software introduced computer graphics into the offices of architects and engineers and some construction jobsites. Here, in this technological realm, emerged photogrammetry, the perfect convergence of digital photography, computer technology, and graphics.

According to Junshan Liu, associate professor in the McWhorter School of Building Science, photogrammetry is the science of making measurements from photographs. It is as old as modern photography and can be dated to the mid-nineteenth century. In photogrammetry, the detection component emerges from radiolocation, multilateration and radiometry while its 3-D positioning estimative component (based on modeling) employs methods related to triangulation, trilateration and multidimensional scaling.

“During WWII, researchers created a panorama using photographs stitched together to pinpoint structures and their conditions,” said Liu. “Modern photogrammetry does all this with intuitive software. Although new digital graphics technology has been adopted by almost every industry, it is relatively new to the construction field. Some contractors have started taking advantage of these new tools such as documenting construction problems and project progress with digital images, developing site utilization plans and building layouts with 2-D graphics, demonstrating projects to clients and checking for interferences using 3-dimensional digital models. However, acceptance and utilization of the latest digital graphics technologies in the construction industry still has a long way to go,” he added.

Liu, who is working on research projects using photogrammetry, became involved in the area because of his fascination with the technology. “Paul Holley [Director of Center for Construction Innovation and Collaboration (CCIC)] got us interested. “We are trying to identify applications of this technology in construction because we believe it’s a new trend that would be great for the industry, and will generate significant savings to the industry.”

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photography: Stephen DeVries

One particular research focus in the BSCI program is 3D modeling. “Typically, for 3D Photogrammetry, we use a Leica T camera to take digital photos and then generate 3D point clouds (using AgiSoft Photoscan Professional software) from these photos,” said Liu. “The software program performs photogrammetric processing of digital images and generates 3D spatial data that can be used in cultural heritage documentation and visual effects production as well as for indirect measurements of objects of various scales.”

“We are trying to identify applications of this technology in construction because we believe it’s a new trend that would be great for the industry, and will generate significant savings to the industry.”

— junshan liu

This revolution in technology and software has brought building modifications, renovations, and additions to the construction world.

This revolution in technology and software has brought building modifications, renovations, and additions to the construction world. Because most of these types of projects involve old buildings, new additions must be designed around existing key elements. To build 3D photogrammetric models, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are used to take photos of existing conditions of construction projects to capture imagery that is then used to construct models. To demonstrate the effectiveness of photogrammetry, Liu created 3D models of Auburn’s iconic Samford Hall (from pictures taken by UAS), and ruins of castles in Ireland (from pictures taken by a team of faculty members visiting Ireland.)

According to Liu, there are many advantages of using this new technology. Besides generating savings for the construction industry, it can provide digital data to aid in establishing and pursuing additional building and landscape preservation objectives, locating structural damages, identification of impending threats and site mapping. “As with any new technology, the acceptance is gradual, but once the adoption happens, the industry will see the many advantages of this technology.”

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SPRING C AREER E XPO Sixty-six companies par ticipate Thank you to the sixty-six companies who joined us at the Spring Career Expo on January 26, 2015.

Ajax Building Corporation Alabama Rural Ministry Anning-Johnson Co Appalachia Service Project Archer Western Contractors, Ltd. Austin Commercial Batson-Cook Company Batten & Shaw, Inc BL Harbert International, LLC BMWC Constructors, Inc. Brasfield & Gorrie C.A. Murren & Sons Co., Inc. Caddell Construction Clark Construction Group D.R. Horton, Inc. Doster Construction Company, Inc. DPR Construction Draper & Associates Evergreen Construction ExxonMobil Development Co

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Gerdau Gilbane Building Company Golden Construction, LLC Gray Construction Hensel Phelps Construction Co. Hill & Wilkinson Hoar Construction LLC. Holder Construction Company Integra JE Dunn Construction Kevin Price General Contractors, Inc Kiewit Layton Construction M. J. Harris, Inc. McCarthy Building Companies McKenney’s Inc MetroPower, Inc. Nabholz Construction Services NcI Building Systems New South Construction Company, Inc.

Parrish Construction Group PCL Construction Services, Inc. Performance Contractors, Inc. R. K. Redding Construction, Inc. RaceTrac Petroleum Reeves Contracting Company Robins & Morton RTD Construction, Inc. Skanska, Inc. Spectra Contract Flooring The Clement Group, LLC The Conlan Company The Stewart Perry Co. Inc. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

TIC-The Industrial Company Turner Construction Company Western Construction Group, Inc. Winter Construction Wright Brothers Construction Co., Inc. Young Contracting/SE, Inc.

CONST RUCTION IS MOR E THAN BUILDING iac highlight: skip loman

S

ince graduating from the Building Science program in 1981, Skip Loman has worn many hard hats in the construction industry. Starting with Brasfield & Gorrie Construction after graduation, he was soon hired as project manager at Opus South Corporation, followed by a stint as senior project manager at Robins & Morton, and later, as Vice President at Hardin Construction. With several years of significant experience behind him, Loman started Loman Construction, LLC in 2009, and the Loman Construction Group, LLC in 2015.

In the 30 years since leaving Auburn University, his construction specialties have included a diverse portfolio of projects in healthcare, high-rise offices, mixed use facilities, multi-family projects, correctional facilities, and higher education projects. It was during his tenure with Hardin that Loman won the 2008 ENR (Engineering News Record.com) Best of the Best award for the Residential category, (for the construction of 3344 Peachtree/Sovereign for Regent Partners).

With such an extraordinary repertoire, it may come as a surprise to many that the construction program or the industry was not Loman’s first choice. He came to the construction program via the College of Engineering where he was registered in the pre-engineering program. “I got interested in the construction program on campus,” he said. “It was exciting to find a great program that I was interested in. I did construction jobs during my summers and loved what I was doing. So it was natural for me to go into the major.

“Auburn prepared us for our vocation, exposed us to the elements of the industry, time management—most of all, the practical understanding of the industry. We graduated as builders,” Loman added.

When he was busy gathering experience in the construction field, he missed interacting with students the most. Over the years, he has returned to the campus in various capacities, as a member of the Industry Advisory Council and as a valued member of the CADC Dean’s Advisory Board.

“I felt that it was impor tant to give back t o t h e s c h o o l t h a t g a v e m e s o m u c h .”

According to Loman, the IAC has a very important role to play in its interaction with the stakeholders. “It is important to interact with students, understand their take and where they are coming from, and interact with faculty and the head of the department. As a member of the IAC, I get to meet students twice a semester, talk to them about the industry and the program, and get their feedback.” For his role, Loman was awarded Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science Distinguished Service Award in 2006 and 2008.

“A lot of changes has occurred in the construction business since I graduated. Technology is a large part of the construction industry now. Most building science graduates have to learn to be managers. When we were students, we focused more on learning about construction itself, but now the focus is on management and latest technology.

“I felt that it was important to give back to the school that gave me so much,” Loman said. “It is important to help the school understand the direction the industry is taking, let them know what training and experience students should have when they graduate, stay up-to-date with the emerging industry and current developments, and modify the curriculum to reflect the development and changes.”

He says that his role on the committees is to act as a sounding board. “It’s an opportunity for the faculty and head to talk to us about their concerns, an opportunity for teaching for the future. It is a great opportunity to assist in the growth and development of new young project managers to become future leaders,” he added.

— skip loman

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FACULT Y NEWS wes collins

W

es Collins, a new faculty member, received his bachelor’s degree (2003) in construction management from East Carolina University, master’s degrees (2012) in technology management (construction management concentration) and business administration from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), and his PhD in construction management in August 2015 from Arizona State University. He was also recently awarded the Outstanding CII Graduate Research Assistant Award from the Construction Industry Institute (CII) for his doctoral research.

Collins brings over 15 years of experience as a construction professional and academic to Auburn. His experience as a professional comes from working as an intern and assistant project manager with Miller-Valentine Construction LLC, in Dayton; as an estimator with Allen Painting Contractor, Greenville, NC; as an assistant project manager with Citadel Contractors, Inc., in Raleigh, and as a project manager with HC3 Construction, LLC, in Dayton. His responsibilities included estimating, scheduling, financial administration, supervision of field and office personnel, and project management on a variety of commercial building projects across the country.

As an academic, he has published several professional papers at national and international conferences, in academic journals, and has several publications that are currently under review, waiting to be published, or in preparation. He spent two years at BGSU as a graduate teaching assistant in the College of Business, and as an adjunct instructor in the construction management department. At Auburn, he will be teaching one section each of Project Controls II and III this fall.

“I want my students to comprehend a solid set of foundational skills that will promote their success in becoming construction professionals,” Collins said. “In my experience, construction students are very hands-on learners, and gain the most knowledge when they are engaged. I want to promote active learning amongst the students, where they actively participate through group discussions and activities. Being able to bridge the gap between what the students learn in the classroom to what they will actually be doing during their internships and careers is paramount in construction education.”

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lauren redden

L

auren Wybenga Redden, who obtained both her bachelor’s and master ’s degree from the McWhorter School of Building Science in Auburn, recently joined the school as a tenure track assistant professor in May 2015.

Redden brings a wealth of industrial experience from working in Flournoy Construction Co., LLC, and Caddell Construction Company. At Flournoy, she was a key member of the Renovation/Rehabilitation Construction Team.

The “Rehab Team” entered into contract with entities that had acquisitioned affordable housing properties in multiple states across the United States in need of modernization and renovation construction.

At Caddell, she worked in pre-construction services and estimating for the majority of her time and moved to the Operations Department as quality control representative, as assistant project manager and as LEED coordinator, which helped her to gain exposure to several key aspects of the construction industry.

In addition to quality assurance/quality control services in the federal construction market, her specialization in construction estimating, pre-construction services, and various aspects of project management services will have an immediate impact on the program. In summer 2015, Redden taught Project Controls I (undergraduate program course), and Foundations I: Estimating (graduate program course).

According to Redden, she is thrilled to be back in Auburn with CADC. “As a student, I participated in several of the student competition teams and thoroughly appreciated the knowledge gained from those events. As an industry professional, I was part of the judging panel for the same regional competition I competed in as a student,” she said. “It was amazing to be on the other side of the table and see the passion from the students to succeed and represent their university. The ability of the student teams to provide great work, under such pressure, was phenomenal.”

Lauren’s husband, Jeremie Redden, is a registered forester with the State of Alabama and a row crop farmer in Russell County.

PROFESSOR SMITH BIDS ADIEU TO MCWHORTER SCHOOL

B

ruce Smith retired from the McWhorter School of Building Science in January 2015. Smith, who started his career in

Illinois, said he had come a long way since his early days in Illinois during what he called “the dark ages.” He worked as a carpenter for many years in the Midwest and western states, eventually settling in the Midwest to start his own construction company. In the late 1980s, he moved his business to Atlanta and worked until the mid 1990s. That was when “Bruce Smith” decided to become “Professor Smith.” He finished his bachelor’s degree at Kennesaw State University and earned his master’s degree from Southern Polytechnic State University in 1999. His first teaching job was at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. He said it did not take long for him to find out

“The common denominator will be that students will continue to receive a valuable education.”

how little he knew and how hard it was to teach. “I also found

bruce smith

out that learning and teaching were what I enjoyed the most.”

Professor Smith and his wife Kathy came to Auburn in

to meet students’ new ways of learning. There are challenges

2004. According to Smith, the Ferris State program was very

of working with an administration, where priorities can come in

similar to Auburn in that it was teaching-oriented, grounded in

conflict with our basic role of teaching. But changes will come,

fundamentals, and taught by a strong faculty with construction

the program will continue to improve. New, bright and ener-

backgrounds. He said his four years at Ferris were enjoyable

getic faculty will take their place and make their mark. Money

and gave him a new appreciation of the term “winter.”

issues will become priority decisions, and new ways of teaching

As he leaves the McWhorter School of Building Science, he

and learning will result in more engaged students and more

looks back on the last 10 years. “The building science depart-

flexible teachers. The common denominator will be that stu-

ment has grown into a school, gotten a new building and cre-

dents will continue to receive a valuable education.”

ated a field lab. More than the physical aspects, the program

“I will always be thankful for the opportunity to work with

has changed in scope and character. More programs have been

the people at Auburn University and teach in this positive envi-

added. The faculty is more involved in publication, research,

ronment. I have continued to learn about construction and

competitions, etc. The faculty and students continue to provide

have had the pleasure of teaching so many wonderful stu-

outreach to the community and the industry, and most impor-

dents,” he added.

tantly, the program continues to provide a valuable education to hundreds of undergraduate students. Although the graduate program provides students with a valuable education and sends many talented graduates to the industry, I feel that the core strength is the undergraduate program.”

Smith perceives many challenges to the building science program in the future. He sees that the changing funding models will challenge the priorities of the program. “There will be challenges in replacing faculty. There are new ways of teaching

please send us your news The McWhorter School of Building Science alumni are achieving great things professionally and personally. Please email cadc.communications@auburn.edu with your news.

Send us news and photos of your professional successes (promotions, awards, etc.) and personal news (marriage, births, personal accomplishments, etc.), and we will include it in the next issue of the Quion.

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2 015 A NNUA L AWA R DS B A NQUE T The McWhor ter School held its annual awards banquet April 16, 2015, at the AU Student Center.

Thank you to our generous donors for making this possible.

AWA R D W I N N ER S Atlanta Building Science Alumni Scholarship

BSCI Senior Book Award

Golden & Associates Construction, LLC Annual Schol-

TR AVIS BRUCE

ZACHARY ADAMS

arship

Bailey Harris Construction Company

BL AKE ORUM

TAYLOR YANCEY

Company Presidential Endowed Scholarship

CADC/BSCI Minority Scholarship

Gray Construction Annual Scholarship

JAMES JOHNSON

DENARD STRINGER

JUSTIN STOCKDALE

Batson Cook Annual Scholarship

Clement Group, LLC Endowed Scholarship

B. L. Harbert International Inc. Annual Scholarship

MARTIN BRIGGS

JUDSON SMITH

ERIN ALLEE

Benjamin H. Craig, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Comer Foundation Annual Scholarship

Holder Construction Annual Scholarship Richard King

HANNAH REDIFER

GARY DURBIN

BR ANDON O’DONNELL

Brasfield and Gorrie, Inc. Annual Scholarship

KENNEDY MAY

Imogene Powell/National Association of Women in

JOHN SL AY TON

Comer Foundation Annual Scholarship

Construction Annual Scholarship

Brock Family Endowed Scholarship

KENNEDY MAY

LUCILE HUTCHINSON

ZACHARY CARDEN

Comer Foundation Freshman Annual Scholarship

Jack & Laura Fite Endowed Scholarship

BSCI Freshman Book Award

CHRISTOPHER R AND

GARRISON BANKS

PETER SULLIVAN

DPR Hardin Construction Annual Scholarship

James Matthew Mitchell Endowed Scholarship

BSCI Sophomore Book Award

JOHN CARTER

JACOB CARRICO

ERIN ALLEE

Gary R. Dent ’70 Endowed Scholarship

NICHOL AS O’CONNOR

BSCI Junior Book Award

K YLE KEATON

James Robert Dugan, Jr.Endowed Scholarship

NOL AN STROM

Gerdau Ameristeel Annual Scholarship

FORREST BRYANT

BSCI Senior Book Award

LUCILE HUTCHINSON

John F. & Emily Straussberger, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

BR ANDON DYKES

MADDOX WISE

MARTIN BRIGGS

Kay Family Endowed Scholarship JACK BJORK

KBR (BE&K, Inc.) Endowed Scholarship JOHN DAVID SALTER

Linbeck Construction Corporation Annual Scholarship ZACHARY MARTIN

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Robins & Morton Corporation Annual Scholarship MITCHELL SMITH

Sigma Lambda Chi SAR AH PHILLIPS

Stone Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship WILLIAM DEAUGUSTINO JASON MCCAY

Timothy Self Endowed Scholarship HANNAH BARTEL

Walton Stone Endowed Scholarship WILLIAM JACKSON FITE

Wesley Scott Bilbo Legacy Endowed Scholarship FORREST BRYANT

Western Construction Endowed Scholarship AARON THOMAS

William A. Hunt ’55 Endowed Scholarship BR ANDON DYKES NOL AN STROM

William P. Caddell, Jr. ’58 Building Specialties Company Endowed Scholarship TOM RUSH

Marshall J. Conner ’40 Endowed Scholarship TUCKER HELMS

M. J. Harris Construction Services Annual Scholarship MCKELVY DOUTHIT

Martin & Cobey Scholarship for Fred Martin, Jr. Endowed Scholarship NICHOL AS CHAPLOW

Montgomery Chapter of Construction Specifications Institute Endowed Scholarship in Building Science GARY DURBIN

Paul C. H. Brandt Annual Scholarship

EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS

RICHARD SPIKER

AGC Education and Research Foundation

R. K. Redding Construction, Inc. Endowed Scholarship

Turner Construction Company Scholarship

TBD

ERIN ALLEE

R. N. Hoar Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Andrew Blair Walton Memorial Scholarship

MEGAN CHESNUT

MITCHELL SMITH

Richard A. & Barbara M. Price Endowed Scholarship JUSTIN STOCKDALE

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