CSU, Chico News

Construction Management (CM) teams from California State University, Chico competed Feb. 5–8 in the 14th Annual Associated Schools of Construction Management Competition and placed higher than teams from 23 other universities. The competition, known for its grueling schedule, was held for more than 500 students at the Reno Hilton.

The CSU, Chico teams received several top awards: a First Place Award in Residential Building Projects; a Second Place Award in Commercial Building Projects; and a Second Place Award in Heavy Civil Projects. Only the University of Washington received as many awards in the competition, with one first- and two third-place finishes.

CSU, Chico has participated in the competition for 13 years. Teams of six students have to replicate in a short amount of time—less than 24 hours—the process by which a real construction firm organizes, schedules and bids an actual project. To do this, they must convert hotel rooms to work spaces that include desks, computer hookups and printers.

“The students experience the value of working in teams to solve involved and complex construction projects,” said Rovane Younger, chair of the construction management department. “The students have the opportunity to make valuable comparisons of Chico’s CM program compared to some very high profile universities. It increases their confidence about their preparation for the field.”

The Residential Building Projects team received a first place award. Chico’s team of Kevin Hunewill, Cheryl Gregor, Ryan Hill, Eugene Laico, Bryant Rumbaugh and Mike Wozniak, coached by professors Lori Dixon and Mark Maybee made the best cost estimate, schedule and construction plan for the construction of a 66-unit three-story apartment building on a four-story subterranean parking garage. The project plans were provided and judged by Morley Builders of Santa Monica, Calif. Washington State University placed second and Central Washington University placed third.

The Commercial Building Projects team received a second place. Bobby Coucoules, Steve Boitano, Ryan Lippman, Larissa Rouen, Stephanie Verdon and Kyle Walker, coached by professors Bruce Yoakum and Maxine Harrington, estimated the cost and made a construction schedule and plan for a 117,000-square-foot, three-story office building with a concrete exterior wall structure of 38 tilt-up concrete wall panels that were 30 feet wide and 28 feet high. The plans for the building, in Rancho Cordova, were provided and judged by Hensel Phelps’ San Jose office. Oregon State University placed first and the University of Washington placed third.

The Heavy Civil Projects team also received a second place. Michael Herlax, Jeff Farr, Chad Fischer, Clark Gardner, Mike Makin and Justin Storm coached by Professor Rich Holman and assisted by Professor Bart Bartholomew made a cost estimate, schedule and construction plan to remove and replace a 2,000-foot by 150-foot section of the Reno-Tahoe airport runway. The project was provided and judged by Granite Construction of Watsonville, Calif. Oregon State placed first and the University of Washington placed third.

“The comraderie of each team and their obvious ability to work together as a unit really showed. These were four very focused groups of students, and it was a joy to watch them grow through this experience,” said Professor Bruce Yoakum, coach of the Commercial Building Project team.

“The passion the CM faculty have for their profession is displayed by the time and energy they devote to the students on these teams. The faculty coaches begin organization meetings at the end of the spring semester, organize curriculums, and in the fall semester, meet weekly with the team to hone their skills in estimating, scheduling, and presentations,” said Younger.
After the team competitions there was a construction management career fair, which the students attended, with more than 30 companies attending.

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