Project leaders from STV’s Construction Management (CM) team recently led a group of students from the University of Illinois Chicago on a site tour of the reconstruction of a vital thoroughfare just a few blocks for the university’s campus.
Kevin Gartley, P.E., associate/project manager, and resident engineer; and Aziz Mirza, P.E., senior project manager and assistant resident engineer, led the group of students, who hailed from the Construction Management Association of America’s (CMAA) student chapter at the University, on the tour of the Harrison Street Viaduct project
“We were able to give this group, which ranged from freshman to graduate students, hands-on experiences you can’t get from a textbook,” said Aziz, who is a University of Illinois Chicago graduate. “They had questions about our procedures, different roles, and how the project is managed on the job.”
STV is providing CM services for the $21 million reconstruction of the Harrison Street Viaduct on behalf of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). The thoroughfare carries freight trucks, vehicles, pedestrian traffic, and cyclists across the Chicago River. As part of this program, our team is coordinating the staged removal and replacement of the structure, with new ADA-compliant sidewalks and protected bike lanes.
The site visit included observing the placement of crucial beams before the roadway’s concrete is poured, and the roadway is ready for phased access to the public. Our team gave students an exclusive look at modifications that were being made to the original plans, traffic controls, and discussed the CM challenges of coordinating a project with various stakeholders.
“Since this is a viaduct, we also took them underneath the bridge, so they could see the original site conditions that led to this project,” Gartley said. “This project was a great example of CM work for these students, right here in the heart of the city.”
STV’s Kevin Nolan, P.E., CCM, LEED AP BD+C, and senior associate, worked with the student chapter in his capacity as the Chapter President for CMAA Chicago alongside Gabriela Gonzales, civil engineering specialist and former president of the student chapter of CMAA at UIC. The Chicago Chapter was awarded a grant by the CMAA Foundation to support student and young professional engagement.
“We are proud to showcase projects that our board members are leading: in this case STV as the CDOT construction manager, and HNTB as the Amtrak construction oversight firm,” Nolan said. “We are thrilled to be able to engage with students in this capacity. Showing them project sites, and discussing the nuances of their studies in real-world scenarios is one of the many ways we’re able to steward the next generation of industry professionals”
“It was a wonderful experience to be on the other side of the project, learning every day and growing as a professional at STV,” Gonzales said. “I look forward to continuing to give back to my alma mater, and through two organizations I’m so passionate about.”
