Washington State University will celebrate the opening of a new industry-supported learning space for construction management students during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
The newly renovated Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller Classroom in Construction Management in Carpenter Hall 212 on the Pullman campus will serve as a dedicated hub for hands-on learning, collaborative project work, and advanced construction technology education.
The space was made possible through significant financial investment and project leadership from PRIME, with additional support from MacDonald-Miller — both long-standing supporters of construction education at WSU. The construction management program is known for its strong industry connections and near-total job placement — with many students receiving job offers well before graduation.
The new classroom space will feature technology for virtual design and construction and team-based project planning.
“This event marks an important milestone as WSU expands opportunities for students pursuing careers in construction and the built environment,” said Partha Pande, dean of the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. “The investment by Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller will enhance the college’s ability to offer applied learning experiences, ensure our students graduate with the technical and professional skills employers seek, and help to grow our graduates in this important program.”
The new classroom space will feature technology for virtual design and construction and team-based project planning. The space expands the program’s capacity to deliver project-based learning in areas such as digital project planning and coordination; team-based construction problem solving; real-world construction simulations; and cross-disciplinary collaboration with engineering and design students.
The classroom will also serve as a training and preparation space for student competition teams, which routinely tackle real-industry challenges in scheduling, estimating, virtual design and construction, jobsite safety, and project delivery. WSU construction management students regularly place in top national and regional competitions.
“This updated classroom will help us better prepare future workforce leaders by giving our students a space that mirrors the high-tech and highly collaborative environments they will enter after graduation,” said Pande. “We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received for this important effort.”
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners are invited to attend the celebration and tour the new facility.
