Special Events

Built Environment Career Fair

The Built Environment Career Fair includes students in construction management, facility management, architecture, engineering, or interior design. In 2021 the fair was held online for the second year in a row. Students met with employers via virtual group and one-on-one sessions, organized by Career and Internship Services. There were 729 one-to-one sessions with 48 no-shows out of a possible 2,353 sessions. Group sessions were also available within this format, with 227 registrations and 31 no-shows. A total of 345 students registered for the fair.

Despite the shortened online format, 119 students attended the fair from the University of Minnesota and nine other regional universities with Construction Management programs. In addition, the online format in 2020 allowed students to attend from five universities nationwide; 34 employers participated.

The Career Fair is a successful event that generates positive feedback from employers each year, with 90% stating in 2020 that student preparation for the event was either good or excellent; 46% of students visited three or more employers. Most employers interview candidates for jobs or internships as a result of the career fair and collect resumes for review.

The 2021 Career Fair took place on October 1, 2021.

Career Fair Statistics

Images from the Career Fair and Quiz Bowl Event

Quiz Bowl

In conjunction with the Built Environment Career Fair, the University of Minnesota hosts the annual Intercollegiate Construction Management Quiz Bowl. It was not possible to hold the event again in 2021 since the Career Fair is again virtual, so the winning NDSU team from 2019 retains the trophy until the next Quiz Bowl scheduled for 2023.

Normally the event features teams from seven regional institutions: Dunwoody College of Technology; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Minnesota State University, Mankato; North Dakota State University; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; University of Minnesota; University of Wisconsin-Stout. Institutions may send multiple teams to compete.

Questions are provided and reviewed by faculty from competing schools and the event is judged by industry sponsors.

2019 Quiz Bowl Teams from University of Minnesota

Women’s semifinalist team (from left to right): Paige Dehmer, Aalayha Robb, Brinnon Kubista, Lauren Gray
Men’s team (from left to right): Mitch Johnson, Sam Franta, Adam Wardak, and Tyler Stenzel

The National Association of Homebuilders Four-Year Program National Competition

Occasionally, our students assemble a team in the fall semester to compete in the annual National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) competition. Teams submit a management proposal on a large residential development project in December, and they present their recommendations to a jury of construction company executives at the NAHB Conference in January/February. The project submission also serves as an approved capstone project that students can count toward their coursework completion.

These projects typically require conception of a site development plan, presentation of a variety of unit types, and a completed economic proforma, along with total project cost, scheduling development, and a marketing plan. It is one of the tougher, more highly competitive competitions in the country for residential programs. Many peer institutions have full coursework designed just for this competition. For our program, it is a “club” event.

Our last competition team of nine students completed a full proposal for the Ridge Point development in North Carolina, achieving 85 of a possible 100 points and taking 13th place in the 2021 virtual event.

Presenting online to the judges panel in Las Vegas: link to video of presentation

Previous NAHB Results

• 2021: 13th of 29 teams
• 2020: 24th of 40+ teams, featured collaboration with Health Services Management for Age-in-Place living facility in Arizona
• 2014: 14th place and awarded Rookie-of-the-Year

While this team works in their spare time to complete the entry, the team had guidance from various mentors: Dean Soderbeck (Soderbeck Design and Construction), Jeremiah Cunningham (alum and former NAHB contestant), Paul Kolias (alum, Doran Construction), and others.

The NAIOP University Challenge: First Place!

For the second time, the Construction Management program coordinated with the Urban Studies Program in the Department of Geography on an entry into the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks regional competition. Led by Paula Pentel for many years, we had two students participate as part of their capstone course project: Eric Shaffran (a presenter), and Seth Wagner. This challenge requires a concise written proposal for a real site with a development plan, construction timeline, budget, proforma, leasing plan and schedule, financing plan, and market analysis. A week after submitting their written proposals, teams have 10 minutes to present their plan to the competition judges, who are industry experts.

Third Place Team: CMGT students Erik Shaffran (left) and Grace Stranik (third from right)
Not pictured: Seth Wagner

This year student teams from five regional universities researched and pitched redevelopment and repurposing of a former, empty corporate office building.

The Pursuit Competition

Sponsored by Ryan Companies, the Pursuit is a capstone-level competition judged by an industry panel. Ryan Construction provides information on one of their buildings: schedules, costs, and technical details of plans, as well as staff support, and the students use these to create a proposal, hoping to “win” a contract much like in real life.

Nine universities that teach Construction Management—Wisconsin Stout, Minnesota State Moorhead, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Wisconsin Stout, St. Cloud State, Dunwoody, University of Northern Iowa (could not compete this year), and the University of Minnesota—participate in this competition, each sending one team to compete. In any given year, up to 250 students may be involved in the competition. Initially an informal event started by the University of Minnesota in 2014, the Pursuit Competition became a regional fixture in 2016.

From Left to Right: Piper Gartner, Madi Winter, Ensar Smailagic, Henry Lin and Cami Vargo

This year the U of M team CHEMP Construction placed fifth overall, and though not where they wanted to be, the team was dynamic, did a great job of presenting, and produced a professional result. Still Gopher proud!

Final Four: The Golden Pen Award

The Golden Pen is an annual event, now in its 16th year, in the CMGT 4041W Specifications and Technical Writing for Construction Professionals course. Student teams compete by writing a design build proposal for the Shoreview Library, hoping to land one of four finalist spots for the opportunity to present their proposal before the “Building Committee” of industry constituents comprising contractors, developers, bankers, public relations personnel, and IT experts. This committee then selects a winning team, whose names are etched into a permanent trophy plaque.

Final presentation by Brandi Rutten (left) and Cami Vargo

For AY 2021–22, its 16th year, the winning team Gopher Contracting, Brandi Rutten and Cami Vargo, took home the Golden Pen, held in person.

Participating judges: Molly Grove, Mary McNellis, Brian Recker, Ted Lentz, Matt Lange (former participant)

Guest Speakers

During the academic year, program faculty invite professionals from varied areas of industry to attend class as guest lecturers and to judge student presentations, or participate through videotaped lectures and interviews. This helps students gain a broader perspective of the field, providing value-added experience to the classroom. The following are some of the guest speakers hosted in Construction Management classes during the 2021–22 academic year. Thank you to our industry speakers!

CMGT Guest Speakers 2021−22

Site Visits

Faculty also lead site visits and field trips to further enhance the student learning experience and bring sites into the classroom via site videos. The following are some of the sites that hosted visits by Construction Management classes and site videos shown in class. With thanks to our industry partners.

Site Visits and Site Videos, Fall 2020−Summer 2021