Current Project
Sheds for Hope
Hope Village will be a self-managed community of cost-effective tiny homes designed for individuals transitioning from incarceration or moving out of transitional housing.
Community Impact
Bridges for Hope
Bridges To Hope was developed with the objective of improving the quality of life and increasing the potential of Nebraska’s formerly incarcerated.
Live Updates
Build Progress & Video
Watch Construction Management students erect 10 sheds to raise money for Bridges 2 Hope, a charity that helps the recently incarcerated get back on their feet.
About the Course
CNST 242 connects classroom learning to real-world construction practice through teamwork, planning, and problem-solving. This course focuses on vertical structures, from grade to topping out, with an emphasis on materials and material handling equipment. Includes the assembly process for a variety of applications including cast-in-place concrete, steel erection, wood framing, precast concrete, masonry structural elements, and material finishing.
This Year's Project
Sheds for Hope
Students are building sheds to be auctioned to support local families.
Include:
• Project description
• Build photos
• Auction details
• Call-to-action button: View Auction Details
Research and Learning in Action
Planning
In the Sheds for Hope project, students apply classroom knowledge of construction systems—from foundations to roofing—to plan functional, durable, and buildable sheds. They review drawings, materials, sequencing, and safety, learning how early decisions shape the final structure. Built to hold value at auction, the sheds' proceeds support local nonprofits, turning planning into meaningful community impact.
Coordination
In the Sheds for Hope project, students work in teams to coordinate tasks, manage materials, and maintain progress through clear communication and accountability. Industry partners engage throughout the semester and during build week, sharing knowledge and demonstrating practices that expose students to real-world expectations. Together, students experience how collaboration across teams, faculty, and professionals drives successful project delivery.
Construction Skills
In the Sheds for Hope project, students build full-scale structures, applying classroom knowledge to develop hands-on construction skills while solving real challenges and learning how systems integrate in a complete build. The completed sheds are auctioned to raise funds for local nonprofits, reinforcing the connection between construction work and meaningful community impact.
Reflection & Research
Throughout the Sheds for Hope project, students reflect on their growth in construction skills, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving while considering how these abilities apply to future industry work. The project also includes a research component, collecting and analyzing data to understand how participation impacts student engagement, retention, and sense of belonging in both the classroom and the construction industry.
Impact
Sheds for Hope connects student learning to community impact through a project-based, full-scale build where students apply construction knowledge and develop responsibility for quality, safety, and teamwork. The completed sheds are auctioned to benefit local nonprofits, reinforcing construction's role in supporting communities, while the project also strengthens connections with industry professionals and contributes to research on student engagement, retention, and sense of belonging.
Live Build Feed
Feed availability may vary during class sessions.
