\u201cWorking on DBE has been amazing,\u201d Greenwood smiles. \u201cEvery day is different and I\u2019m constantly kept on my toes.<\/p>\n
![\"DBE](\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/project-built-environment-800a.jpg\")
\u201cAs a graduate site engineer, I\u2019m responsible for making sure what\u2019s on the drawing happens out on site. That means conducting quality checks, liaising with contractors, clients and engineers, filling in vital paperwork, chasing down sub-contractors and a million other things!\u201d<\/p>\n
For the past six months, Greenwood has been part of the build\u2019s \u2018structure\u2019 team, receiving ongoing training and learning on the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might sound strange but I could watch concrete pours over and over!\u201d she laughs. \u201cMost people don\u2019t realise how many concrete pours are required in a building! It\u2019s not just creating the soffit and floors, but also the columns, ramps and items like planter walls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greenwood says she acquired many of the necessary skills during her Curtin applied science degree in construction management.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were taught how to calculate the stress and strain of concrete and the importance of reinforcement,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cReinforcement is vital in construction as concrete can shrink and crack. Structural steel bars give the concrete greater strength to resist \u2018directional pulls\u2019 at junctions in the slab.\u201d<\/p>\n
High-quality construction challenges<\/h3>\n
The Curtin graduate says it has been fascinating to get hands-on experience in the same location she gained her degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learnt so much more about the campus,\u201d she says. \u201cConstructing a facility at a university presents lots of unique challenges!<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, we need to work hard to keep staff and students safe. But we also have to operate under a certain decibel [level] on site, respect exam periods, create special routes for delivery drivers with larger vehicles and be aware of noise impacting surrounding buildings. It often means working more unusual hours \u2013 like night shifts.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Architectural](\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/project-dbe-internal-800.jpg\")
The building too has unique requirements. With its thermochromic glazing to reduce heat, a rainwater harvesting system and water-efficient fixtures, fittings and solar panels, sustainability is central to the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtin is targetting a \u20186-Star Green Star\u2019 sustainability rating,\u201d Greenwood explains. \u201cWe\u2019re aiming to achieve well over the 75 points required. To give us a buffer, as things never go exactly to plan, we\u2019re using materials that have an Environmental Product Disclosure, low VOC paints, adhesives and many more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my job to chase down all the documentation which can be a challenge!\u201d<\/p>\n
The busy graduate explains the next step is the fa\u00e7ade of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fa\u00e7ade of the building has a lot of \u2018pre-cast\u2019. When you cast concrete, it reflects exactly what\u2019s there, like a sponge, so if you don\u2019t get the full length cast perfectly, you notice the blemishes instantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis finish is not done very often in Perth so we had to research extensively to find the right sub-contractors who have experience working on high-end finishes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Construction in the time of COVID-19<\/h3>\n
Alongside the challenges of building a high-quality construction on a busy campus, Greenwood is now navigating work in the middle of a global pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cConstructing the building during the COVID-19 pandemic has added a lot more risk,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
![\"DBE](\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/project-dbe-courtyard-800.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve introduced thermal scanning on site. Everyone gets their temperature checked every day and has to answer questions about their exposure to COVID. We also stagger start times and lunch breaks, have split the team across two site offices and of course, adhere to the 1.5 metre distancing rule.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greenwood says once the scale of the pandemic became clear, the team introduced further changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe quickly produced a \u2018coronavirus mitigation register\u2019 to send to our contractors to find out whether our supply of products would be impacted,\u201d she explains. \u201cThat helped us plan ahead. We\u2019ve also had to navigate a reduced workforce as many people have chosen to stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team is using the Enablon app to increase safety on site, conduct observations and ensure protocols are respected.<\/p>\n
A unique opportunity<\/h3>\n
Greenwood says she secured her dream position in the final year of her degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of my Curtin course I completed work experience as a quantity surveyor,\u201d she explains. \u201cI loved the experience of going out on site so when I learned that Lendlease was offering a fourth-year Curtin student the chance to work on a major construction project and join their graduate program, I jumped at the chance!\u201d<\/p>\n
Lendlease, Australia\u2019s largest property development and construction company, was so impressed by Greenwood\u2019s application that she was offered the role less than 24 hours later.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a whirlwind!\u201d she laughs. \u201cI\u2019m so glad I took a chance on a construction career. I would 100 per cent recommend this degree to others who are looking at a career in project management or construction. Curtin is the only uni in Western Australia to offer this degree and it\u2019s given me so much exposure to different industries and opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
To women interested in pursuing a career in the field, Greenwood also has some advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out there!\u201d she says. \u201cYou build your skills through confidence and you build your confidence through exposure. Don\u2019t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Jump in and excel!\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Drone](\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/DJI_0792.jpg\")
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