Construction Management students construct concrete ball wall for elementary school

College of Engineering students in the Construction Management Association at Boise State University received national recognition in Florida from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), earning the 2025 Construction Management Skills Award for a student-led community project at Highlands Elementary School.

Construction Management students traveled to Orlando, Florida, to receive their newest national AGC award this month. From left to right: Grant Gustafson, Aiden Russell, Griffin Slovik, Bella Fleischman, Piper Hicks, Matt Taylor, Ethan Alldredge, and Bode Campos.

The award recognizes outstanding student chapters who demonstrate excellence in project planning, management and execution. The Department of Construction Management (CM) team was honored for leading the design and construction of a new concrete ball wall, completed in partnership with the Boise School District and the school's Parent Teacher Organization.

"Thanks to the generosity of our parent community, we identified a need for more engaging options for our upper-grade students and Boise State's Construction Management students stepped in to help make that vision a reality," said Highlands Elementary PTO Treasurer Denise Smith. "Working with them over the past three years has been an exceptional experience for our school community. We're incredibly grateful for their partnership and the lasting difference they've made for our students."

The project replaced a wall originally built by construction management students more than a decade ago that had been removed during a school renovation. For today's students, the opportunity provided both a chance to restore a valued playground feature and to gain hands-on experience managing a full construction project from start to finish.

Real-world application

Members of the Construction Management Association (CMA) student chapter managed every phase of the project, mirroring the process used by professional construction teams. Students oversaw preconstruction planning, permitting, scheduling, budgeting, construction, and project closeout.

"This is another excellent example of a CMA project benefitting our local community," William H. McMurren Endowed Chair of Construction Management Anthony Perrenoud said. "While receiving national recognition is always appreciated, the most meaningful impact is reflected in the lives of our students, who build life-long relationships through the CMA Student Chapter. These connections are what truly endure, though hopefully the concrete wall will last even longer."

The completed structure, a 16-foot-long by 10-foot-tall cast-in-place concrete wall with reinforced footing and apron slab, required extensive coordination between students, school administrators, city officials, and industry partners.

Students self-performed much of the fieldwork, including layout, formwork installation, rebar placement, concrete placement and backfilling. Along the way, they navigated design revisions, permitting requirements, weather delays, and scheduling challenges common to active construction sites.

CMA student work on the wall ball project's form at Highlands Elementary in Boise, Idaho.

Despite these hurdles, the team completed the project on time, under budget, and without any injuries, providing a durable and functional recreation feature for the school's playground.

Turning knowledge into action

The project served as a living classroom for CM students, allowing them to apply skills learned in coursework to real project conditions.

"As the secretary of the Construction Management Association, I was able to be involved behind the scenes, and being part of the wall ball project was an amazing experience," Construction Management student Bella Fleischman said. "Winning an award for our hard work and the impact we've made for our community, it's an opportunity I'll always be grateful for."

Students created and managed a detailed construction schedule using industry software, adapting plans when design revisions, permitting delays and weather conditions required adjustments. They also managed budgeting and cost tracking, documenting every expense and donation while maintaining transparency with the project's stakeholders.

Because the project was structured as an at-cost contract, students gained firsthand experience reviewing contract language, managing risk, and understanding how different project delivery models affect budgeting and decision-making.

The team also implemented quality control procedures throughout construction, verifying layout, reinforcement placement and formwork alignment before major activities. When a formwork failure occurred during the wall pour, students stabilized the forms and safely completed the work, turning the experience into a valuable lesson in field problem-solving and construction safety.

Building skills and community

Beyond the technical aspects of construction, the project helped students develop leadership, communication and conflict-resolution skills.

"They brought professionalism, dedication, and a genuine commitment to seeing this project through - from early planning to helping us navigate the city approval process," Smith said. "They were so committed that they were even out there in the rain painting Highlands Husky paw prints to make sure the project truly reflected our school community. The wall-ball wall has made a tremendous impact at Highlands Elementary, creating new opportunities for inclusive play and student connection, and it's something our students will benefit from for years to come."

CMA students oversee the concrete pour for the Highlands Elementary's new wall ball.

Student leaders served as project manager and superintendent, coordinating with owners, managing field operations and ensuring safety throughout the build. The team also worked closely with city permitting officials and school stakeholders to resolve design conflicts and determine the best location for the wall.

By supporting their recommendations with site data and engineering input, students successfully guided project decisions that improved drainage, accessibility and long-term usability of the playground.

For the CMA, the completed project represents more than a successful build. It reflects Boise State's commitment to experiential learning for students and to preparing the next generation of construction professionals through impactful real-world opportunities.

The new ball wall will serve Highlands Elementary students for years to come while standing as a visible example of how Boise State students are applying their skills to benefit the local community.

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