James Rhodes Learns About Construction Management from PCS

Blog by Glory A. Oliveras, ACE Student at James Rhodes 

On Monday, April 2 PCS lead our ACE session. As an introduction all of our mentors introduced themselves and explained their previous studies based on construction. They also spoke to us about how and where they graduated successfully from. Then later that day, we played the paper clip game. in this game you had to have a group of four teammates. Every group decided on a creative team name and began with 10 paper clips in the middle and then each teammate had to take as much paper clips as they pleased, but they had to watch out because you can't grab too many of them. We were not allowed communicate in any type of form or you will be called out for cheating. The team that had the highest amount of paper clips wins. LMAO won the first round, then the second round FANTASTIC 4 won. The two winning teams received candy bars as theis prize.  After the activity, PCS mentors described the role of a construction manager, and basically we learned that a construction manager is in charge if cost, quality, and safety. We also talked about the steps during the construction of the PNC Bank. Last, but not least, we looked into cost and time management. 

PCS is rebuilding a site where it used to be a pizzeria and a dry cleaners. The place really looked bad. The dry cleaners poured all of their chemicals into the sewers and contaminated the area. The constructors helped and cleaned out all of the chemicals which contaminated the area. They are now rebuilding the site which is located on East 83 on Carnegie.This really helps our city which is great. 

After we reviewed this project, we began another activity which was a cost estimation by putting in a bid. We also got the total cost of then single and double leaf door frames. In that activity the team LMAO won again. The last activity was putting together the steps to building a company or building. It was great. we didnt have enough time to see who the winner was, so everyone received a candy bar for their hard work.