I spent most weeks on the Tillamook Ice Cream Facility jobsite. I started each week bright and early, leaving home around 6 am to head to the job site and then I’d stay throughout the week. While on site, I typically worked from 7 am to 5:30 pm, tackling a wide range of tasks. . This summer, I had the opportunity to do a lot of field verification work, checking everything from doors to tackboards and countertop sizing to make sure everything was accurate. I also handled procurement of specialty items and materials for our field crews, as well as capture daily progress photos. Additonally, I scanned for rebar, created a variety of Bluebeam markups, ran the Punch List in Procore, and helped with writing RFIs, Submittals, and RQ proposals. Although this was my third summer interning with JP Cullen, it was my first time working on a singular project which has been really exciting opportunity for me, especially with how involved I have been able to be with this job.
It is very hard for me to highlight just one thing that has happened this year as being the most memorable. This was my first time working on a project with a large amount of structural work and considerations for maintaining the integrity of a 100-year-old building. One of the highlights has been learning from our ironworkers. They have always been willing to take a moment to teach me about what they’re doing and the why behind the process which has really helped me to connect what I have learned in classes to the real world.
Similarly, this was my first time working on a project during heavy MEPF installs. By scanning for the electrical and plumbing contractors, I was able to see a lot of their process and the coordination that occurs between them and the owner’s specialty subcontractors for refrigeration and process piping. While I have gained a better understanding as to what goes into planning on their side, scanning for their penetrations has also given me the opportunity to see what concerns the engineer has when working with an older building. Overall, this project has been a huge learning experience for me. From the project team, to our field crews and subcontractors, I have learned so much from everyone.
During my previous internships, I participated in Punch List walks and subsequent confirmation of the work being completed. Because of my familiarity with the process and software, I was given the responsibility of setting up and running the Punch List for this project until my internship was over. Since the work is still being completed, we’re approaching the Punch List at the moment in a bit unconventional way. I dove right in and tried different settings to find what seemed to be the easiest way to navigate the list. I also looked back at one of the Punch Lists I had worked on last year when I had questions to jog my memory and get ideas. Over the walks I have gained confidence in leading an owner through a punch walk, answering their questions, and ensuring issues are corrected to get final sign-off.
Last summer, I worked in the Janesville Division working on Epic’s Miscellaneous Projects, so it was really exciting to see the progress on those projects when we visited for the Madison Intern Training Day – almost a year since I was last on site. During my last week there, two of the buildings were just holes in the ground, part way through drilling piles, and are now much different.
Before college, I had considered becoming an operator so finally being on a job with heavy equipment has been really neat for me, especially the day when the ironworkers gave me the opportunity to give them a hand with removing some large equipment from the building and setting it down elsewhere on the site to be worked on.
Another thing that has been a lot of fun is that about once a week, some of the project team will go out for a round of golf after work. It’s been a great way to relax after a busy day. After reflecting on this past summer internship, I am so grateful to find that I still love construction just as much as ever and am confident that my future career in construction is the right path for me.
