Civil Engineering Students Get Behind-the-Scenes Look at Northside Commons Construction
York College civil engineering students recently had the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and onto an active construction site during a tour of the new Northside Commons residence hall.
The visit offered students a firsthand look at what goes into bringing a large-scale campus project to life, from reviewing blueprints to witnessing construction techniques in action.
The tour was made possible through collaboration between York College’s Facility Services and local industry partners. Dr. Paul Ackerman, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, helped organize the experience after learning of the opportunity from Kevin Feil, Vice President of Operations.
“Kevin has been very active in letting me know about construction activities on campus and has set up several similar site visits over the past few years,” said Ackerman. “In this case, Mr. Timothy Tate, President and CEO of Stewart & Tate, expressed an interest in providing students the chance to see and learn from this project.”
During the tour, students explored different stages of construction. They heard directly from Stewart & Tate professionals and a registered Professional Engineer. The experience helped students connect their classroom lessons to real-world applications.
“The goal for the students is to see an actual construction project and understand how what they’ve learned in class applies in the field,” Ackerman explained. “They also get to work with real project plans and specifications afterward, which we use to create assignments that simulate what professional construction engineers do.”
Ackerman said the most significant benefit of the visit was the level of student engagement he saw. “I can lecture about foundation and construction methods in class,” he said, “but when students see it happening in real time and for a building they’re familiar with, they’re much more interested in how it all works.”
The Northside Commons tour continues York College’s tradition of connecting students with real projects and professionals who shape the built environment. “This is just another good example of the collaboration that happens between YCP leaders, faculty, alumni, and industry partners that directly benefits our students,” Ackerman added. “We’ve done this before with the Knowledge Park and Horticulture Building projects, and the impact is always significant.”
