A group of 20 students from the Purdue Polytechnic High School (PPHS) system visited the Lennar Foundation Construction Lab on Nov. 12 for an immersive "Lennar Day" workshop, designed to give them a hands-on look at the future of the construction industry with one of the college’s premier partners, the Lennar Foundation.
The event provided students with the opportunity to operate high-tech equipment, including crane and excavator simulators, and to interact with virtual reality (VR) design tools. The goal was to expose them to the diverse career paths available in construction management, from skilled trades to leadership.
For Mallory Green, a senior at PPHS, the day was an opportunity to confirm her passion for the field. "I love all the hands-on things," Green said. "It's really nice to be in an environment where I can play around with the crane or VR, and talk to people who are actually in the field. It helps me figure out where I'm going next, especially as a senior."
Green, who has been interested in construction management for some time, noted that the day provided a unique glimpse into the industry. "You can't be a good leader if you don't know what people are going through on a daily basis," she said. "So if you don't get to be in it, then I feel like you won't be able to do your job as well."
Fellow senior Cameron Hensley was also drawn to the high-tech equipment, particularly the excavator simulator. "The thought process behind it is so interesting—having to move multiple things at once, and how people do that every day and make a living off of it," Hensley said. He also saw the appeal of a future in leadership, adding, "Being able to manage my own team [and] actually get something done with that, I think that would be really, really cool and very rewarding."
The event was also an eye-opener for students who were less familiar with the construction industry. "I didn't really know much about the field before coming here," said Davey, a PPHS senior. "It has definitely expanded my horizons a little bit. When I hear 'construction,' I've always thought of one thing, but I've seen a lot of different stations... and it's made me kind of interested in seeing what I could do in the future."
Leo, another senior who already works part-time in commercial roofing, was particularly impressed by the advanced technology in the lab. He pointed to a room laser scanning system as a highlight. "I had never even knew that something like that was possible, even out in the field," he said. "It gives you basically an entire scan of the room, and if you had 3D models in a computer, you can kind of compare and contrast with those to see if there are any differences at all."
Thanks to the Lennar Foundation’s sponsorship of the event—and due to their ongoing relationship in building a meaningful pipeline of talent—Lennar Day provided one more step to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice. The showcase of high-tech, management-focused career paths available through a degree in construction management technology provided countless examples of how PPHS students could choose to hone their talents after high school. One of the surest routes is by continuing down a polytechnic pathway, which can lead to a career with world-class industry leaders such as Lennar.
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