Construction internships continue to provide students with direct exposure to field operations, project coordination and quality-control activities before they enter the industry full time. Hyder Construction recently highlighted the work of intern Samuel Salinas following his summer assignment on the Waldorf Astoria Residences Cherry Creek Denver project.
Salinas worked with the project team in a role that included both field and administrative responsibilities, giving him experience across multiple stages of construction.
During the early stages of the internship, Salinas participated in foundation construction activities. His responsibilities included rebar quality control, shotcrete basement wall work and concrete placement for footings and columns.
As construction advanced above grade, Salinas became involved in coordinating underground plumbing and electrical rough-ins. He also worked with requests for information and submittals, providing exposure to the documentation and coordination processes that support field construction.
The internship also included participation in the project's storm sewer tie-in. Salinas handled quantity takeoffs and procurement related to scope gaps associated with the work.
Salinas participated in the placement of the project's first-floor slab-on-deck, marking a transition in the construction sequence as the building moved above grade.
His field experience included direct participation during several concrete placements, providing exposure to equipment, sequencing and field coordination associated with structural concrete work.
For construction students, experience across both field operations and project documentation can provide an understanding of how trade coordination, procurement, quality control and construction activities connect during project delivery.
Internship programs give construction companies an opportunity to introduce students to project delivery while allowing emerging professionals to gain practical experience before graduation. Salinas' assignment provided exposure to structural work, MEP coordination, procurement and project administration on a major Denver development.
Salinas is returning to Colorado State University for his sophomore year following the completion of the summer internship.
Source: Hyder Construction.
