HIGHLIGHTS Summer 2016
Volume 10, Issue 3
A publication of the Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University.
In This Issue:
CM Builds International Relationships
Promoting Construction Management.............................. 2 New CM Professor Presents in Spain...................................... 2 Dr. Mary Nobe Keeps Busy Summer Schedule....................... 3 Promoting Sustainability............4 Dr Svetlana Olbina presents at (ASCE) Symposium.....................4 PADB Featured Partner............... 5 Ram Welcome 2016.................... 6 Upcoming Events........................ 6
Ozbek and. Akalp at EURO MED SEC 1 in Istanbul, Turkey
Advancing the knowledge and practice of construction management for the betterment of society through teaching, applied research, and service to local, national, and global communities.
CM professor Mehmet Ozbek and graduate research assistant Duygu Akalp attended the EURO MED SEC 1 conference in Istanbul, Turkey. There they presented, “Differences in Construction Companies’ Preferences in Making Bid/No Bid Decisions.” In addition to their presentation, they met with representatives from two Turkish Universities, Kocaeli University and Yildiz Technical University, to finalize MOUs between them and the CSU CM department. The MOUs will facilitate the exchange of faculty and students and promote collaborative research and
learning opportunities. These types of initiatives are an important aspect of the department’s mission to promote and contribute to construction management community not just on the local and national level, but globally. Ozbek also published three papers, two of which were co-authored with Akalp. One of the papers, “Exploring Student Commute Behavior and Identifying Opportunities to Minimize Commute GHG and Air Pollution Emissions: A Case Study” was presented by a colleague at the Construction Research Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June.
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Summer 2016
Promoting Construction Managment The CM Advising Office held a number of events to promote the department this summer. One area of focus was building stronger ties with the CSU Access Center. The Access Center works with groups historically underrepresented in postsecondary education to promote student success. The objective of the meeting was to ensure the Center is familiar with the Construction Management Department and the career opportunities offered by a CM degree. This will strengthen existing projects to build a more diverse CM student body. Academic success coordinator, Kayla Boos, and internship and out-
reach coordinator, Anna Fontana, met with Access Center staff to talk about the CM program. They also met with students in the College Track program run by the Center. The students completed a team activity in which they created a model using gumdrops and toothpicks. Boos also met with CSU Admissions councilors to talk about the program. The councilors act as CSU’s national recruiters and Boos works closely with them so they can discuss and promote the construction management program during their events.
College Track participants building their models
New CM Professor Presents in Spain New Assistant Professor John Killingsworth traveled to Spain this summer. While there he presented a paper at Equipo de Desarollo Organizacional at the University of Barcelona. The presentation discussed his work on integrating written communication in a construction methods and materials class. While in Europe Killingsworth found time to do a little
Killingsworth at Maria Laach Abbey
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sight seeing. He visited the Familia Sagrada in Barcelona, a modern Gothic cathedral. The cathedral was designed by Antoni Gaudi and construction began in 1882. It is expected to be completed in 2028. He also visited Maria Laach Abbey near Koblenz, Germany. This is a 12th century Romanesque cathedral and is one of the oldest surviving cathedrals in Europe.
Familia Sagrada
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Summer 2016
Mary Nobe Keeps Busy Summer Schedule The summer of 2016 was busy for professor Mary Nobe. She continued working on a pair of research projects focused on microgrid technology, spent the summer working as a faculty intern with Saunders Construction, and published an article based upon research conducted on barriers to energy efficient behaviors in low-income housing residents. The first research project, funded by the CSU Energy Institute, is a study examining barriers to Direct Current (DC) microgrid technology. Microgrids have the potential to significantly reduce energy loss due to AC/DC conversion loss, especially for facilities with electricity generating capabilities and significant standing DC electric needs like computers. The research involves an interdisciplinary team of academics, practitioners, industry professionals, and non-profit leaders examining the technical issues and social barriers to its adoption. Nobe is part of the Social Science Team. The aim is to understand barriers to the adoption of DC power systems in commercial buildings. The research is occurring in concert with the development of new laboratory facilities at the CSU Powerhouse Campus, which will test a MEG DC microgrid system. The re-
sulting papers will provide valuable information on the development, deployment, and acceptance of large scale DC microgrid technologies in commercial construction. The second project was a study conducted at the Alliance Center in downtown Denver. The purpose of the Alliance Center is to bring together groups into a shared office space where spontaneous collaboration can occur. Nobe and her colleagues conducted a modified post-occupancy evaluation that included focus groups, interviews, and surveys to evaluate the effects of the recent building remodel on occupants’ productivity. The results from this study will be used to develop baseline data prior to the installation of a DC microgrid system within the building. Nobe also spent a second summer as a faculty intern with Saunders Construction. Her main function was to provide training on Asta scheduling software, assist in updating and progressing schedules, and development of proposal schedules. Faculty internships and continuing education opportunities keep CM faculty up-to-date on construction management trends and techniques, ensur-
Connect with us!
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Nobe, Lisa Quiroga, and Blain Fanning onsite at the Dairy Block in Denver
ing that course content is relevant and current with industry standards. The department thanks Saunders Construction whose generous funding helped make this opportunity possible. Finally, Nobe published an article in Social Marketing Quarterly. “Identifying Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Reducing Energy Consumption in an Affordable Housing Complex,” was co-authored with Daniel Reaves and Caroline Clevenger. The article identified barriers to energy efficient behaviors among low-income housing residents.
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Summer 2016
Promoting Sustainability In June, professor Rodolfo Valdes attended the Construction Research Congress where he presented two papers, “The Horman Symposium: Developing a Network of Researchers,” and, “Mentorship for Sustainability Topics and Work-Life Balance Perceptions of Young Project Engineers in the U.S.: Linking Their Career Intentions with Their Supervisor’s Role.” He also served as a panelist at the 2016 Prospective and Junior/Underrepresented Minorities and Women Faculty Panel Session. His presentation, “Join a big program or a small one? What are the opportunities and challenges,” focused on helping new faculty make career decisions. In July, Valdes participated in the 2016 LEED in Latin America Technical Meeting, organized by USGBC and Panama GB in Panama City, Panama. The meeting consisted of two productive days of discussions about the new LEED version and challenges faced by consultants, designers, and contractors managing the certification process. More than 50 attendees were represented from 11 countries and 26 companies. One of the top
Dr. Valdes and other participants of the Summer 2016 - LEED in Latin America Technical Meeting. Photo Courtesy of USGBC and Panama GBC organizing committee.
lessons learned from the meeting was the importance of having an integrative approach and a serious commitment from the entire design and construction team at the early stages of the project. A second lesson learned was the need to engage the Operations and Maintenance staff from the beginning to ensure buildings are not only designed and built efficiently, but also operated with a sustainable mind set.
Finally, he was invited to join the Organizing Committee for Engineering Sustainability 2017: Innovation and the Triple Bottom Line. The event, “bring[s] together engineers and scientists from academia, government, industry, and nonprofits to share results of cutting-edge research and practice directed at development of environmentally sustainable buildings and infrastructure.”
Svetlana Olbina presents at American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Symposium The Symposium, held in Portland, Ore., is the Society’s flagship member event. It brings together participants from around the nation to promote learning and professional development. Professor Olbina was one of 10 speakers who attended the event. Her presentation, Sustainable Building Systems, explored ways in which building envelopes and design elements can be incorporated into buildings to make them more efficient and more comfortable. Olbina presenting at ASCE
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Summer 2016
PADB featured partner: MCAA
Looking For A Career Or Internship? Visit www.mcaagreatfutures.org where you can post your resume and be seen by up to 3,000 contractors in North America. • Mechanical and plumbing is 40% to 60% of an overall construction project. • Demand for workers in the MEP field is high and pay is great. • The MCAA Student Chapter members have enjoyed 100% placement in the past 5 years.
MCA
Mechanical Contractors Association
MCA OF COLORADO IS AN ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE MOST COMPETENT, PROFESSIONAL AND CUTTING-EDGE MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING CONTRACTORS.
of Colorado
Proudly Affiliated With CAMPC
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Visit us at www.mcacolorado.org for more information.
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Summer 2016
Ram Welcome 2016 Under the guidance of the CM Advising Office, the department hosted nearly 100 incoming students for the annual Ram Welcome. This event familiarizes new CM students with the department and the expectations placed on them as students. It also allows them to meet faculty, staff, and fellow majors in a relaxed atmosphere.
Upcoming Events CM Student Board of Directors - Annual Clay Shoot The Annual Clay Shoot is Friday, November 4th, 2016 at Kiowa Creek Sporting Club. This will be a day of shooting at one of the finest sporting clays courses in the country. While there, students have the opportunity to network with industry professionals. For more information contact Ian Rice at ianrice@Rams.ColoState.edu. Save the Date - Spring CM Career Fair The Spring 2017 Construction Management Career Fair will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2017. Registration will open in early December. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please call 970-491-6222 or email Conference@ColoState.edu. Connect with us!
Department of Construction Management, Colorado State University 1584 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1584 Phone: (970) 491-7353 Fax: (970) 491-2473 www.cm.colostate.edu Submit comments or stories to: cminfo@colostate.edu