Evan Sleeth is a construction management student at Purdue University in Indianapolis. He is currently completing an internship with Shiel Sexton on the new Academic Success Building. The $187 million, 16-story structure serves as the flagship facility for Purdue's urban campus expansion. Sleeth is gaining daily, hands-on experience helping construct the classrooms and laboratories that Indianapolis students will use to complete their degrees.
We asked Sleeth about his day-to-day responsibilities on the site and his experience working on a historic university project:
What are your specific day-to-day responsibilities as an intern on a massive, 16-story, $187 million project like the Academic Success Building?
My specific day-to-day responsibilities include taking progress pictures to document the work and track progress being made in the field. Another major responsibility right now is doing everything we can to keep all of the water out of the building until the windows fully enclose the whole building. This includes taping over insulation to keep it dry and building temporary dams at doorways to prevent water from entering the building.
You are actively helping to construct the exact classrooms and labs that will soon be home to so many student programs. How does it feel to work on a facility you will eventually use as a student?
It feels rewarding and very motivating. It is a unique experience to help build a facility that is part of my own campus. Knowing that I am contributing to the classrooms and labs that will support future learning makes the work feel more personal. It gives me a strong sense of pride because I can look at the building and say that I played a small part in bringing it to life.
Working under your project manager on such a high-profile site, what is the most surprising or challenging thing you have learned that a textbook or classroom couldn't teach you?
The most surprising lesson has been how important communication, coordination and quick problem-solving are on a real jobsite. In class, construction can seem very straightforward on paper, but in the field there are constant changes, weather issues, trade coordination conflicts and unexpected conditions that require fast decisions. I have learned that even small issues can affect schedule, cost and productivity, and that strong teamwork and clear communication are what keeps a project moving.
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