R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction, Camryn E. Berger
Construction Management
This paper presents a narrative detailing the design and construction process undertaken by an interdisciplinary team of students from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, representing the Construction Management, Architecture, and Architectural Engineering departments. The team collaborated to design, fabricate, and install three precast concrete benches for the nonprofit organization R.A.C.E. Matters. The project began in Fall 2024 and culminated in the installation of the benches at sites managed by the San Luis Obispo Conservancy: Pismo Preserve, the Octagon Barn, and Kathleen’s Overlook. Each bench will serve as a platform for murals, visually depicting diverse racial experiences. This paper …
Circular Economy In Construction: Decision-Making Factors And Future Research Avenues,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Circular Economy In Construction: Decision-Making Factors And Future Research Avenues, Bahaa Chammout, Islam H. El-Adaway
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
The construction sector is a major consumer of raw materials and a significant contributor to environmental degradation. Circular economy (CE) - an economic and systemic approach aimed at minimizing waste and fostering sustainable resource use - offers a remedy for these impacts. However, CE adoption in construction remains under-researched and limited. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a comprehensive understanding of CE decision-making factors in construction. This paper addresses this research need. First, the authors reviewed 138 journal articles on CE in construction, published between 2015 and 2023, and compiled a comprehensive list of 40 factors influencing CE decision-making. …
Skip The Grid: Energizing Navajo Nation,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Skip The Grid: Energizing Navajo Nation, Eiley Q. Eichten
Construction Management
Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary service project aimed at providing reliable and clean energy to families living in Navajo Nation. Cal Poly partnered with Heart of America, SOLV Energy, and Nextracker to help bring this plan to fruition. Twenty students were selected to contribute to the planning, coordinating, and fundraising for the project. After the preparation was completed, Cal Poly students joined representatives from Heart of America, SOLV Energy, and Nextracker. The trip commenced with a hands-on, productive five day visit to Chinle, Arizona. The first working day commenced with Cal Poly students attending a total of five schools …
Design And Playhouse Plan For Girls Build Summer Academy 2025,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Design And Playhouse Plan For Girls Build Summer Academy 2025, Aracely Berber
Construction Management
This project involves the development and execution of a week-long construction camp at Cal Poly aimed at introducing high school girls to the construction industry through the hands-on building of playhouses. This camp is coordinated by a professor in Cal Poly’s Construction Management Department and invites other industry professionals. The initiative not only promotes youth empowerment and gender diversity in the industry but also incorporates a strong educational and technical component. As part of the planning process, a detailed 3D model of the playhouse was created using Autodesk Revit to visualize the structure. Additionally, a materials list was created and …
Skip The Grid: Empowering The Navajo Nation Through Solar Energy,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Skip The Grid: Empowering The Navajo Nation Through Solar Energy, Gerardo L. Luna
Construction Management
Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary service project through California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), aimed at providing sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities. In Spring 2025, I participated as a rooftop safety lead and solar installer in Chinle, Arizona, where our team partnered with SOLV Energy, Goal Zero, and Heart of America to bring solar power to 40 off-grid homes across the Navajo Nation. As a member of Red Team #3, I was directly responsible for ensuring safe ladder setup, supervising rooftop work, mounting solar panels, and managing exterior cable routing for 8 successful installations. Beyond …
Cal Poly Leaning Pine Arboretum Gazebo,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Leaning Pine Arboretum Gazebo, Tyler Higgins
Construction Management
Located on the north end of California Polytechnic State University’s campus, the Leaning Pine Arboretum gazebo stands as a place of gathering, relaxation, and functionality. Taking the place of a smaller existing structure, this project transforms the area, creating new opportunities and laying a foundation for future growth over the coming years. Along the way, several challenges arose, including design complications, permitting issues, and time constraints. Through this process, it became clear that obstacles were inevitable, and overcoming them taught valuable lessons in teamwork, coordination between multiple parties, relationship building, and project management. From September to December 2024, work continued …
Skip The Grid: Delivering Solar Energy To The Navajo Nation,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Skip The Grid: Delivering Solar Energy To The Navajo Nation, Lucca Giuseppe Pracilio
Construction Management
Skip the Grid (STG) is a program where companies within the construction industry come together to better the quality of life for the people of the Navajo Nation. Through collaboration with Goal Zero, SOLV Energy, NEXTracker, and Heart of America, the fourth Skip the Grid Trip installed 40 solar systems on homes within the Chinle region in northeastern Arizona. Officially finishing on March 27th, 2025, the trip not only consisted of providing a service for the people of Chinle but also allowed California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students to learn about the history of the Navajo Nation …
2025 Annual V.E.S.T Hackathon: Renovating Safety Harnesses,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
2025 Annual V.E.S.T Hackathon: Renovating Safety Harnesses, Mason P. Chamberlin
Construction Management
This paper presents the organizational framework and logistical planning involved in executing the 2025 Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (V.E.S.T.) Hackathon, an annual innovation workshop hosted by the Construction Management Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The event brings together students, faculty, and industry professionals to reimagine and redesign common construction equipment with a focus on safety, usability, comfort, and inclusivity across diverse user profiles. The 2025 hackathon, held April 15–16, concentrated on safety harnesses, an essential component of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. Participants engaged in the two-day event that included conceptualization, prototyping, and …
Ace Mentor Program Of America,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Ace Mentor Program Of America, Dayana Flores Reyes
Construction Management
This senior project examines my role and experience as a student mentor in the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program's Central Coast Chapter. This program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application, utilizes simplified terminology for early learners, and provides structured deliverables tailored to the project at hand. This year, the program targeted students from San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande High School. The project involved designing a new fire station to replace Fire Station No. 4 in San Luis Obispo, which was chosen due to its mixed-use properties. Over the course of nine weeks, the students engaged in the …
Skip The Grid: Bringing Solar To The Navajo Nation,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Skip The Grid: Bringing Solar To The Navajo Nation, Samuel B. Mcclintock Ii
Construction Management
Skip the Grid is a student-driven, interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to improving access to electricity for families of the Navajo Nation. The project focuses on educational equity by addressing barriers to home study, such as insufficient lighting and energy. These issues stem from the Navajo Nation's remote nature and the families' access to resources. In March of 2025, a group of 24 students and faculty from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), representing six different educational departments, traveled to Arizona to partner with the Chinle Unified School District in addressing educational equity in the Navajo Nation. The effort allowed students to …
Discovering The Effective Actions Of Upstanders And Tackling Implicit Bias In The Workplace: Findings From A Workshop,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Discovering The Effective Actions Of Upstanders And Tackling Implicit Bias In The Workplace: Findings From A Workshop, Jacob H. Defreeuw
Construction Management
This project focused on exploring how both university students and construction industry professionals recognize and respond to opportunities to act as upstanders in workplace settings, particularly in support of underrepresented groups. The research aimed to bridge the gap between current industry practices surrounding implicit bias and the practical realities of advocating for inclusiveness on construction sites and in office environments. To achieve this, surveys were distributed to industry professionals, an in-depth literature review of modern upstander and implicit bias training strategies was performed, and a student-centered workshop was held at the Cal Poly Women in Construction Symposium. The workshop featured …
Skip The Grid: Off-Grid Solutions For Navajo Families,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Skip The Grid: Off-Grid Solutions For Navajo Families, Jordan Badgley
Construction Management
Skip the Grid is a service project executed by California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students, Heart of America, and SOLV Energy to provide sustainable power solutions to Navajo families in need. Within the vast, remote landscapes of the Navajo Nation, over 32% of households lack electricity, creating significant challenges for daily life. The 2025 Skip the Grid trip marked Cal Poly’s fourth consecutive year partnering in this impactful initiative. An interdisciplinary team of 20 students from 6 different areas of study, work collaboratively, preparing for months to ensure a successful installation trip in Chinle, Arizona. Over the course of …
The Utilization Of Biodiesel In Commercial Equipment In Construction,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
The Utilization Of Biodiesel In Commercial Equipment In Construction, Ryan Bustos
Construction Management
The utilization of heavy machinery is essential to the success of all construction projects, but the dependence of traditional diesel fuel contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of the industry. Biodiesel presents a cleaner, more sustainable alternative, yet its adoption across construction sites remains limited. This paper will examine the current use of biodiesel by contractors and explore key barriers preventing its implementation. A series of interviews with industry professionals responsible for fuel and equipment management were conducted to collect various insights and perspectives on the alternative fuel. This study focuses on identifying obstacles such as biodiesel cost, availability, compatibility, …
2025 Annual Hackathon Redesigning Safety Fall Protection,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
2025 Annual Hackathon Redesigning Safety Fall Protection, Cole Lewis
Construction Management
The Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (VEST) Hackathon is an annual event organized by construction management and social science students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Its purpose is to redesign a specific piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to improve usability, comfort, and inclusivity, with a focus on providing equitable safety for all workers. This hackathon centered on fall protection, specifically safety harnesses, which are essential for protecting workers at height but often lack comfort and user-friendliness. Students, faculty, and industry guests gathered to examine current harness designs and develop practical, worker-informed improvements. The event space was outfitted …
How Mass Timber Supports Sustainability During Construction: An Industry-Based Analysis,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
How Mass Timber Supports Sustainability During Construction: An Industry-Based Analysis, Nicholas T. Mayton
Construction Management
As the construction industry explores new ways to reduce environmental impact, mass timber has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional materials. While much of the existing research on mass timber focuses on life-cycle assessments and carbon comparisons, few studies capture insights from professionals directly involved in building with it. This paper analyzes a series of industry interviews with contractors, designers, and sustainability consultants who have experience working on mass timber projects. The aim is to understand how sustainability plays out during the construction phase—not just in theory, but in practice. Using qualitative methods and word pattern analysis, three core …
The Third Annual Hasslein Caed Collaborative,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
The Third Annual Hasslein Caed Collaborative, Marianne Nicole Bishai
Construction Management
This paper details the planning, development, and impact of the third annual Hasslein CAED Collaborative Student Competition. The intention of the Hasslein Cup is to engage the students of the five College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) majors in an industry-like scenario. The five majors, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, City and Regional Planning, Construction Management, and Landscape Architecture, make up the workforce of the construction industry, yet there has been very little opportunity for the students to work together and replicate a professional scenario. The competition began from research conducted by Greta Stout, class of 2022, which explored the benefits …
Concrete Patio Demolition And Construction,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Concrete Patio Demolition And Construction, Tyler Nielsen
Construction Management
A 6.25 cubic yard unreinforced concrete patio was constructed for the non-profit organization. This project included three phases: concrete slab demolition, grading and formwork, and concrete pouring. Each phase was estimated and then received owner approval prior to execution. The demolition phase involved obtaining city permits for a roll-off container for debris removal. This phase also included two days of work with over 10 demolition crew members, who were given the required training and equipment to ensure safety and productivity. The following weeks included grading and setting up formwork. Once the grade was complete, the formwork was laid out and …
Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing Programs In The Construction Industry,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing Programs In The Construction Industry, Evan James Olszak
Construction Management
Mental health problems are very prevalent within the construction industry, and there is not enough attention put towards the mental wellbeing of employees in the industry. The construction industry is ranked #2 for deaths by suicide, and #1 when mining and extraction are included (CDC, 2021). Previous research has been done to understand the severity of the issue, and some programs have been started to spread awareness and train employees. The issue arises in a lack of analysis of these programs. The programs that are being used are still in their infancy and require a comprehensive review to understand the …
Creating An Off-Site Construction Course,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Creating An Off-Site Construction Course, Tyler Steven Meehleis
Construction Management
The construction industry is undergoing a transformation as prefabrication and modular methods become more common across project types. From residential homes to large-scale commercial buildings, offsite construction offers faster timelines, improved quality control, and reduced environmental impact of construction. Despite these advantages, off -site construction has historically been underrepresented in the Construction Management (CM) curriculum at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). While students are well-prepared for traditional project delivery in residential, commercial, and heavy civil sectors, they often graduate with limited exposure to more modern building systems and off-site production techniques. This off-site construction course addresses this gap by …
Hawthorne Elementary Stage Set Construction,
2025
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Hawthorne Elementary Stage Set Construction, Alejandro Gonzalez, Sergio Daniel Manriquez
Construction Management
The Pirate Ship and Playhouse project, undertaken by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Cal Poly Construction Management students, aimed to support arts education at Hawthorne Elementary School through the construction of theatrical set pieces for a Peter Pan performance. Initiated by Phil Barlow and guided by Anna Brennen from the school’s staff, the project integrated community service with practical learning in construction management. From initial design and material sourcing to final installation, the team emphasized safety, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Funding and logistical support from local businesses and Cal Poly facilitated the project’s success. This hands-on endeavor not …
