Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
The Texas A&M Chapter of the National Association of Home Builders was named the nation's outstanding studet chapter at the association's January convention in Las Vegas.
"This year, the NAHB was looking for student chapters to show what they've done to promote diversity in residential construction management and in their organization, as well as their sustainable construction initiatives," said faculty adviser Russ Peterson, assistant professor of construction science.
Aggie students helped construction science students at Prairie View A&M, a historically black university, establish their own NAHB chapter during the spring 2009 semester and hosted Panther students at meetings to familiarize them with NAHB meeting procedures.
"At the end of the spring 2009 semester, the two chapters held a joint meeting to hand off the NAHB leadership to the next group of students," said Texas A&M NAHB president Phillip Gazca.
Texas A&M's chapter was helped in the partnership with Prairie View A&M through a grant from the NAHB's national housing endowment, which, after construction industry matching funds and Texas A&M University assistance, had an impact of $277,000.
Six students from the Aggie chapter joined six students from Prairie View A&M's chapter to field two teams in the Student Chapters Residential Construction Management Competition, Jan. 19-22, at the NAHB's International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.
The competition is one of the highlights at the annual builders’ show. It gives students an opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to a real construction project by completing a management proposal, which is evaluated by a panel of construction company executives. At the convention, students present and defend their proposals to the panel in front of an audience.
Overall, a delegation of 26 students from the two schools attended the convention.
"We wanted to get as many students from Prairie View to Las Vegas to see what goes on in the residential construction industry, meet homebuilders and participate in the competition teams," said Peterson.
In September 2009, students from the two schools' chapters went to the Parade of Homes in San Antonio, a showcase for some of the area's custom home builders and designers.
"Students got to walk through the homes, helped volunteer in the event, and met builders," said Peterson.
Gazca said it was a good experience for both schools. "We had the chance to learn from each other and collaborate on some great ideas."
The Aggie chapter's leadership in sustainable initiatives also contributed to its recognition.
Gazca presented parts of his senior capstone project, "Sustainability in Residential Construction," at A&M Consolidated High School's Green Path Society, where students and community members learn more about sustainable living through society activities.
The Aggie NAHB chapter also stopped using paper fliers to promote its events, turning to its website, email and plasma screens in the college's three buildings.
The chapter also participated in the college's recycling program, taking bottles and cans placed in recycling bins to the community's recycling center.
Visit the Aggie NAHB website at http://nahb.tamu.edu/.
- Posted: Feb. 02, 2010 -
