BCT Alumnus Profile: Irina Makucha (BS ’14)

BCT Alumnus Profile: Irina Makucha (BS ’14)

A few days ago, we met with Irina Makucha. She is a BCT alumnus who currently works as a Project Engineer at Consigli Construction. She just finished work on the UMass School of Education project at Furcolo Hall in Amherst and was very happy to show off this complex project, which involved renovating a former elementary school plus constructing an addition. Irina originally came to BCT as a transfer student from Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Here is her advice for other BCT students. "My dear fellows students, I would like to share my work experience with you: Graduating from the BCT program, I was very fortunate to join Consigli Construction company. When I won a Scholarship from PWC (Professional Women in Construction) CT Chapter, I joined a mentorship program that introduced me to this company. Consigli is a management company who puts the project together as a "quilt", piece by piece. We receive plans from the design team & buy it out, controlling the...
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BCT Alumnus Profile: Caroline Kmiec (BS ’14)

BCT Alumnus Profile: Caroline Kmiec (BS ’14)

   We caught up this semester with our alumnus, Caroline Kmiec, who currently works as an Assistant Project Manager at W.T. Rich Company, Inc. in Newton, MA. She shared details of her recent projects with us and provided our graduating seniors with stories "from the real world". Asked about her experience here at BCT, she shared this with us: “My name is Caroline Kmiec. I graduated from UMASS Amherst from the BCT program in December of 2014. Since then, I have been working with a Commercial General Contracting Company, W.T. Rich Co Inc. located out of Newton MA. Founded in 1968, W.T. Rich Company has over four decades of experience as a General Contractor and Construction Manager. We specialize in major renovation work, historical restoration, new builds and projects that involve unique logistical, technical or scheduling challenges. Our field and management personnel have successfully performed hundreds of projects of this nature. We focus our capabilities and resources on only those projects that best...
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UMass Amherst Students Build Timber Grid Shell as Pop-up Exhibition on Fine Arts Center Plaza

UMass Amherst Students Build Timber Grid Shell as Pop-up Exhibition on Fine Arts Center Plaza

After a lot of work, the timber gridshell on the Fine Arts Center plaza is now finally up and open to the public. This multidisciplinary design-build project, led by BCT faculty Peggi Clouston and supported by BCT adjunct faculty John Fabel (and many others), involved many students from across UMass. You can find more information in the official press release (below) and on the accompanying website: AMHERST, Mass. – A massive and intricate wooden dome temporarily adorning the plaza of the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was engineered and constructed by UMass students over two semesters as part of a wood design studio class. Known in technical circles as a timber grid shell, the structure is the end product  of a course taught by Peggi Clouston, associate professor in the building and construction technology program at the university. Thirty feet in diameter, the 3,500-pound shell rises to 11 feet at the center. The 52 longest laths in the...
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Clouston featured in Suffolk Construction video about Design Building

Clouston featured in Suffolk Construction video about Design Building

A new video and blog post on the Suffolk Building Smart Blog shows the construction of the new, engineered wood UMass Amherst Design Building. It features interviews with BCT's Dr. Peggi Clouston, as well as Tom Chung, Principal at Leers-Weinzapfel Associates and Robert Malczyk, Principal at Equilibrium Consulting. It also shows the construction site from various angles, including from above! https://videos.files.wordpress.com/qI2r6Jqm/umass-design-building3_dvd.mp4 Source: Suffolk blog post...
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BCT’s NAHB student group in the news with competition prep

BCT’s NAHB student group in the news with competition prep

BCT's NAHB student group made the news yesterday on local TV-station WWLP with a report about their competition participation at the upcoming International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. As part of the Residential Construction Management Competition, they will get to practice the managerial and technical skills they developed while studying at UMass. (Source: http://wwlp.com/2016/01/12/umass-students-to-compete-in-national-building-competition/) We wish them all the best and good luck! If you would like to learn more about the NAHB student group, visit their page on our site or contact their BCT faculty advisor, Ben Weil....
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