Students from Purdue University's Bowen School of Construction in Indianapolis gained firsthand experience with industry technologies during an Oct. 29 visit to the Gaylor Electric Innovation Center in Noblesville, Indiana.
Led by Esra Tepeli, assistant professor of practice in the Bowen School of Construction, the visit brought students enrolled in CM 16400 – Construction Graphics into an industry setting to explore how digital design tools and building information modeling (BIM) are used in construction projects.
During the visit, Gaylor Electric professionals demonstrated technologies and processes used in construction, including design workflows, software applications and collaboration among project teams.
The experience complemented students' coursework in AutoCAD, Revit and BIM, providing an opportunity to see how the tools they are learning in the classroom are applied in professional settings.
“Experiences like this help students connect what they're learning in the classroom to how construction projects come together in the field,” Tepeli said. “Seeing professionals use the same tools they're learning gives students a better understanding of how those skills translate into their future careers.”
Through industry visits like this, Purdue Polytechnic students gain exposure to construction technologies, connect with industry professionals and explore career opportunities in the field.
