1. 12/10/2009 The Eastern Echo
N e ws a n d n o n se n se sp i ce d wi th n e rve
Students shadow Pittman Hall construction projects
By Robyn Hoffenblum | THE EASTERN EC HO
Added December 9, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Eastern Michigan Univ ersity is giv ing mentors and students a chance to work together on campus.
Brandon Pomish, head of the Pittman Hall construction project, wanted to get students inv olv ed in the project to
giv e them education bey ond the classroom. The students in this shadowing project will take practical knowledge
and skill away from this ex perience.
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“The students are shadowing the project manager and the site
superintendent,” said Pomish. “They are both brand new into the
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“It’s pretty interesting because when I’m with the construction manager I
feel like I’m in his shoes because I see all the obstacles he has to go
through and get to see how it gets done,” said Iman Eidi, one of the
student mentors. “It feels good to use what I’m learning in the class and actually seeing how it gets done in the
real world.”
As a current student in the mentorship program, this is Eidi’s first time doing construction on a building, and he
likes it.
“I heard about this project through Eastern Constructors from Dr. Stein,” said Eidi.“It was an e-mail he sent
around for ev ery body , and I decided to apply for it because I hav e nothing to lose. I’v e been working there since
September. I usually go to the site in between my class breaks. What I do is mentor the project manager on the
site. I follow him around; see what’s getting done, and what needs to get done.”
“I am mainly there to observ e but I get inv olv ed with things like daily work reports, updating the schedule,
writing requests for information and other general work,” said Gregory Champion, another student in the PCI
mentorship program.“I found out about the opportunity because it was announced in class by the instructor. It
was also posted on the Construction Management board in Roosev elt Hall.”
Champion had some ex perience before he started the mentorship, “I do enjoy it. I’v e been there about a month.
It is v ery interesting learning how things go from bare materials to a finished building,” he said.
Pittman Hall has been under construction since Oct. 8. The unofficial completion date of this shadowing project
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2. 12/10/2009 The Eastern Echo
and the construction of the Pittman building will be in January 201 0. Renov ations being made include new
carpet, paint, millwork, and bathroom counters, as well as new lighting, new study lounges and recreational
lounges on alternating floors.
“The total project budget is $1 .63 million,” said Christopher Longerbeam, the project engineer. “PCI’s
construction contract is around one million. The rest of the costs are in furnishings and other owner costs.”
Section: News, Top Stories
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