Ribbon cutting held for new Construction Training and Research Laboratory
Among those participating Friday [Oct. 23] in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mississippi State University building construction science program’s new Construction Training and Research Laboratory were (l-r) Ron Perkins, president of Jobsite Tech Group; Craig D. Capano, Roy Anderson Endowed Professor and BCS program director; MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; MSU industrial arts education alumnus Joel A. “Tony” Carroll of Tupelo, vice president and construction manager of Sanderson Construction Co. Inc.; and Jim West, dean of MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs
Mississippi State officials, students, faculty and staff gathered last Friday [Oct. 23] to celebrate the university building construction science program’s new Construction Training and Research Laboratory.
Located behind Howell Hall, the CTRL consists of a TechSuite office and KNAACK DataVault™ with the latest construction site technology from companies including Hewlett-Packard, EarthCam, Samsung and CyberPower, among others. Other features include a work yard and equipment venue for the BCS program.
“Our building construction science program is becoming more and more popular, and we now have this wonderful teaching and research laboratory for our students to be able to enjoy,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.
“We absolutely understand the importance of having well-trained leaders in this profession. What sets us apart as a university is that we provide real-world opportunities, so that our students can be successful,” Keenum added.
Other distinguished guests included MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert; Jim West, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design; Joel A. “Tony” Carroll of Tupelo, a 1975 MSU industrial arts education graduate, CAAD Alumni Fellow and BCS Industry Advisory Council chair who now serves as vice president and construction manager of Sanderson Construction Co. Inc.; and Ron Perkins, president of Jobsite Tech Group.
In addition to Jobsite Tech Group, sponsor representatives from Williams Scotsman, KNAACK, EarthCam: The Webcam Technology Experts, and Mississippi Construction Education Foundation also were in attendance.
West said the university’s BCS program is “cutting-edge in both its studio teaching pedagogy and its collaborative integration with the university’s architecture program.”
“I think this facility is going to serve our students very well, and I thank the BCS faculty, students and Industry Advisory Council, as well as the university administration, for working toward this day,” West added.
Part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU’s building construction science program is one of only two studio-based construction programs in the U.S. Learn more about the college and its academic programs at www.caad.msstate.edu, facebook.com/CAADatMSU and twitter.com/CAADatMSU.
Information about the BCS program also may be found on facebook.com/MississippiStateBuildingConstructionScience.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Sasha Steinberg | Public Affairs
