EUGENE, Ore. -- (Sept. 22, 2009) – The building boom on the University of Oregon campus and a set of new courses gives architecture students a good reason to dust off their hard hats and learn the fundamentals of construction management.  

Made possible with a gift from Hoffman Construction, the department of architecture is sponsoring a series of advanced courses to educate students about the elements and issues involved in construction management.  The first course of the series starts September 29 and will be taught by adjunct instructor William G. Ramroth, Jr.

“I’m presenting to the students the multiple definitions of construction management, including the big-picture view which is managing the planning, design, and construction of building projects, “ explains Ramroth. “Students will learn the various aspects of this profession and what is expected of an architect during construction.  In addition, they will learn about other career opportunities for architects in the field of construction management.”

Students will study Oregon building codes, learn how to certify a project to meet U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements, and learn about the partnership between architects and construction companies including work planning, project scheduling, construction cost estimating, review of submittals, risk management, and ethical conduct.

The university campus in Eugene affords a rich environment to study buildings under construction.  Currently, Hoffman Construction is constructing the new Matthew Knight arena, the below ground parking structure, and the athletic academic learning center. Students will have hard hat tours to observe construction sites and will learn from construction managers at Hoffman Construction and Chambers Construction.

William G. Ramroth, Jr. is author of four books on architecture and project management.  He has thirty-five years experience in design and construction working on building projects ranging in size from $100,000 to $120 million.  Ramroth works for Kennedy/Jenks Consultants based in San Francisco, with offices throughout the western United States. Ramroth is a project manager overseeing design and construction teams for multiple projects including sustainable projects in California. Ramroth received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the UO. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  In addition, he is a registered architect and is LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, as a leader in the design of energy efficient and environmentally sensitive “green” buildings.  

His publications include Project Management for Design Professionals (2006, Kaplan), Pragmatism and Modern Architecture (2006, McFarland), and Planning for Disaster: How Natural and Manmade Disasters Shape the Built Environment (2007, Kaplan).  His latest book, Risk Management for Design Professionals (2007, Kaplan) will include recommended reading on safety and other issues for construction management.

Bart Eberwein, vice president of Hoffman Construction, says he is thrilled that the money will go towards seeing that architecture students understand the fundamentals of construction means and methods.  “Understanding leads to teamwork and richer collaboration, important elements of great projects,” says Eberwein.  “We have a lot of A&AA grads on our staff, and although, they are not doing pure design, they are working with architecture and engineering firms to do important, long-lasting work.”

Hoffman Construction Company is one of the nation’s largest contractors and has completed some of the most challenging projects in the world such as the Experience Music Project in Seattle with Frank Gehry and the Seattle Public Library with Rem Koolhaas. With headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and a full-service office in Seattle, Hoffman is a privately held company with all corporate stock owned by employees. In over 80 years of operations, Hoffman has never failed to complete a project or had a single demand placed upon its bonding company.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 62 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Karen Johnson, AAA communications, 541-346-3603, karenjj@uoregon.edu

Source: Christine Theodoropoulos, head, architecture department, 541-346-3656, ctheodor@uoregon.edu

Links:
http://aaa.uoregon.edu/arch
billramroth.com
hoffmancorp.com