Pulte Homes poured enough concrete to build a 4 inch thick sidewalk from NY to San Francisco and back!

Pulte Homes Residential Construction Laboratory:

Cal Poly is known for developing creative means to simulate real world experiences in the controlled, experimental environment of the campus. The Pulte Homes Residential Construction Laboratory is designed to create an immersive experience for students studying this sector of the construction industry for an entire quarter. This 2,000 SF facility will be filled with models, sample materials, marketing documents, contracts, and other essential items related to residential construction practices. This will enhance student activities to investigate the materials and methods used in the construction of wood frame, masonry, and light gauge steel structures.

In the "studio-based" model for construction education, students will have individually assigned spaces and layout tables on which to work on major design and management projects throughout the term. Featured in the Pulte Homes Residential Construction Laboratory will be re-configurable student workstations wired for network connections and complimented by collaborative areas to encourage teamwork. Within this environment, state-of-the-art presentation equipment will enhance student projects. The front of the lab will be equipped with a large desk and podium for the instructor, two 8-ft. whiteboards, a large pull down screen, and overhead and data projectors.

The Residential Lab is physically located adjacent and connected to the Materials Demonstration Lab, the heart of the Center for Construction Excellence. It shares the demonstration lab with comparable labs dedicated to commercial and heavy/civil construction, and includes applied research space for faculty working on housing issues.

Curriculum Impact

This lab houses the second of the four-course sequence where construction materials and processes will be taught. The instructional model will be case study based with solutions being developed by student teams. As a result of their studies in the Pulte Homes Residential Construction Laboratory, students will gain real world experience by:

Working with mechanical and electrical systems for residential and light commercial buildings.
Developing an appreciation for the magnitude of the residential construction industry and the central role that this sector plays in the health of the national economy.
Learning about current trends and issues related to housing and development of residential communities.
Beginning to master the estimating and scheduling techniques appropriate to residential construction.
Continuing to develop written and presentation skills essential to the success of professional constructors in any field.