A group of OU Construction Science students recently had the opportunity to lay concrete masonry units as part of their Fundamentals Lab class. The Fundamentals Lab is designed to give students hands-on experience with common building materials used in the commercial building industry.
Led by Terry Clinefelter, adjunct faculty in the Construction Science department, the students examined materials and methods utilized in commercial construction projects. They worked through the process of building CMUs by mixing mortar and constructing concrete block walls.
The students were also joined by industry craftsmen Jack Easley from Easley Masonry, Adam Slattery from Al Slattery Masonry Inc. and Zack Easley from Dolese Bros. Co. According to Clinefelter, “The key to this class is that students learn from the people who are actually putting the work in place. It gives the students a perspective that is very important when they enter the construction industry.”
Students in the Fundamentals Lab class have visited several other sites throughout this semester, including a Dolese concrete plant and W&W AFCO Steel facility. In the coming weeks, Clinefelter plans to organize a site walk of an active commercial construction project.