Beyond the build: from site to classroom, inspiring future pathways

Building Engineering is proud to continue our partnership with St Columba’s College as part of their Project-Based Learning Week, delivering an engaging, hands-on experience that brings the construction industry to life.

This year, students were welcomed to one of our live construction projects, where they had the opportunity to explore the multi-storey project currently under construction.

Leading the session was our team, including Rachel Richter, Head of Marketing, Jake Lewis, Project Manager, Jayda Balas, Graduate, and Verity Udovicich, Bid Coordinator and proud St Columba’s College alumni. Verity’s involvement added a meaningful full-circle moment, showcasing the pathways from student to industry professional.

The visit extended beyond a traditional site tour, forming the foundation of a real-world design challenge. Students were tasked with designing their own classroom space, working within a defined budget and selecting key elements such as finishes, furniture, lighting, and layout.

The brief encouraged students to think like a construction team, combining creativity with practical decision-making, cost planning, and teamwork.

The feedback from St Columba’s College has been fantastic, with strong student engagement and clear enthusiasm for the experience and the opportunities in the construction industry.

We’re looking forward to the next stage of the program, where our team will attend St Columba’s College to see the students present their designs. It will be exciting to see how their ideas have developed and the innovative thinking they bring to the challenge.

At Building Engineering, we are passionate about supporting emerging talent and creating meaningful connections between education and industry, inspiring the next generation of construction professionals.