Construction management students place among the top in national competition

ABC competition
A team of six UW-Platteville students compete at the 2022 National Associated Builders and Contractors' annual Construction Management Competition.
ABC Competition
A team of six UW-Platteville students compete at the 2022 National Associated Builders and Contractors' annual Construction Management Competition.
Pictured left to right are Evan Meyers, Colton Ervin, Jon Beyer, Zach Wynstra, Logan Niesen and Matt Peterson.
Pictured left to right are Evan Meyers, Colton Ervin, Jon Beyer, Zach Wynstra, Logan Niesen and Matt Peterson.
Students toured the University of Texas Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.
Students toured the University of Texas Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.
Students toured the University of Texas Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.
Students toured the University of Texas Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.
Students tour the 701 Rio project.
Students tour the 701 Rio project.
Students tour the Travis County Courthouse.
Students tour the Travis County Courthouse.

A team of six University of Wisconsin-Platteville construction management students recently competed in the 2022 National Associated Builders and Contractors’ annual Construction Management Competition, where they placed fifth overall. The team was one of only 14 collegiate teams, nationwide, to participate in the competition, held in San Antonio, Texas. The UW-Platteville team included Evan Meyers, Jon Beyer, Logan Niesen, Zach Wynstra, Colton Ervin and Matt Peterson.

According to its website, the ABC Construction Management Competition provides competing teams an opportunity to experience an actual project that exhibits unique characteristics and issues. Participating teams assemble a general contracting firm that represents their school and ABC Student Chapter in the competition. Prior to arrival on site, the teams complete pre-work on a pricing and technical proposal, which is then the basis for a number of exercises and challenges presented throughout the day by the Construction Management Competition committee. 

The UW-Platteville team’s proposal addressed the 701 Rio project, an office building in downtown Austin, Texas. The students were responsible for creating an estimate, schedule, project management plan, quality control plan and safety plan—each of which was assessed by the judges. In round two, the students had six hours to respond to addendums to the project. The UW-Platteville team was one of only a few teams selected to move on to the third round, where they made a presentation to the judges’ panel on why they should be selected to win the bid of the project. 

While in Texas, the team also had the opportunity to visit three jobsites with Hensel Phelps, one of the university’s industry partners, including the Travis County Courthouse, the University of Texas Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium, and the 701 Rio project.

“We are extremely proud of how our team advanced,” said Gretchen Bockenhauer, coordinator and assistant professor of construction management. “We are so thankful for our industry partners and alumni who made this possible:  Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, Hensel Phelps, Wondra Construction, JP Cullen, J&R Underground, Pieper Electric, Royal Construction, Dearborn Engineers & Constructors, Lunda Pipeline Division, Barnhart Crane & Rigging, United Rental, PDC Electrical Contractors, Pepper Constructors, All Crane and Immel Construction.”

The UW-Platteville team plans to compete next year in the 2023 National ABC Construction Management Competition, which will be held in Kissimee, Florida.