Spring 2021

February 22, 2021
7:00pm – 8:00pm

Kicking off the semester, we were joined by Beil Weil, a Building and Construction Technology (BCT) professor at UMass Amherst who is an expert in building energy modeling and analysis. Over the course of this event, he gave a lecture on his own experiences in energy consulting, modeling, and analysis. Shelbourne Falls and the Cowell Gym were the main examples he used as case studies. For these past projects, Professor Weil explained how he used various types of methods to perform energy analyses like regression analysis and active model simulations. Through these methods, Professor Weil was able to respond to his clients’ needs and resolve issues with excessive energy consumption and retrofitting to create numerous energy-efficient buildings.

Flyer ? Recording

March 15, 2021
6:00pm – 7:00pm

In our first chapter meeting of the semester, we hung out and played a bridge construction game and did construction trivia. Prizes were given out to winners! Our hope is to continue these types of meetings where we can talk to each other, have fun, and learn a thing or two.

Flyer ? Presentation

March 19, 2021
11:15am – 12:15pm

It used to be considered “bad luck” for women to be on-site while a tunnel was being constructed. Elisa Comis has had an incredible career in tunnel engineering where she broke through years of prejudice. After speaking with Elisa Comis about her career as a woman in a male dominated field, UMass AGC students learned…

• as a woman, you are going to be tested at the beginning and many will try and make it harder for you, so you need a passion for your job to keep you there
• in a male-dominated field a woman’s career support system is often men, so keep an eye out for the ones who support you 
• it’s possible to have a demanding engineering career in a leadership role (where you also travel) and also get married and have children, and it is made easier if your spouse and family can move with you from job to job
• you don’t have to act “like a man” to be successful in a male-dominated field, you should just be yourself and your talents will shine through
• know when it gets hard that you are paving the way for other women

Flyer ? Recording

March 29, 2021
7:00pm – 8:30pm

At our second chapter meeting of the semester, we held officer elections for the 2021-2022 school year. Congratulations to the following new officers!!

President: Nate Wright
Vice President: Eric Lee
Secretary: Kitty Lovell
Treasurer: Noah Green
Club Representative: Kevin Brooks
Outreach: Sam Esquivel

Slides

April 5, 2021
Virtual

Due to COVID-19, this year’s OSHA training was provided online for a low price of $15 per student. 47 students enrolled in the training!

April 19, 2021
7:00pm – 8:00pm

Joined by Project Manager Jeff Veilleux and VDC Manager Nick Shaw of The Whiting Turner Contracting Company, UMass students learned about…

• BIM modeling and its applications in the construction process
• the different stages of the PSB project
• interactions between the project manager, design team, and others involved with the project
• difficulties encountered and how they were solved
• the fascinating masonry work during the project
• a really cool outlook on technology and its applications to construction (thanks Nick!)