Mortenson teamed with the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) for a two-day event that brought New Berlin high schoolers to the campus for career exploration, a hands-on activity, and a behind the scenes tour of a project site. Led by MSOE, the team of Kiewet, Gilbane, and Mortenson came together to share their enthusiasm for the construction industry. 

The schedule for each day included a welcome and introduction to construction followed by a tour of the Northwestern Mutual project site. Our Mortenson BIM/VDC pros then shared how we are using technology to build more efficiently and gave students a sneak peek at where we could take technology in the future.

Shaun Hester and Kevin Kendellen Presenting on Mortenson's Use of Technology

Students then participated in a hands-on activity where they had to use candy to purchase supplies to build an energy producing machine. In order to win the competition, teams had to develop a budget, track their spending, come up with a design, build it, and then sell it in a one-minute presentation. Students created machines with wind turbines, solar panels, and other unique components. The day ended with a panel discussion of industry professionals sharing how they became interested in construction, what challenges they face, and a question and answer session with students.

In total, over 150 students participated in the Future Builders program between the two-days. Programs like these expose kids to professional design and construction careers as well as careers in the trades. As an organization, we are passionate about community involvement and helping to get students interested in pursuing careers in construction.

Check out some of the local media coverage from the event from the Journal Sentinel and TMJ4.