Tilt-Up Concrete Association Announces San José State University (SJSU) as the Education Partner for the 2014 TCA Convention
MT. VERNON, IOWA – The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) – a non-profit international organization that serves to expand and improve the use of tilt-up as the preferred building system – has announced that it will partner with San José State University (SJSU) as the education partner for the 2014 TCA Convention.
The TCA’s annual convention brings together contractors, engineers, architects, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, educators and developers from across the globe with an interest in tilt-up construction. Each year, the convention is held in a different U.S. city and issues of regional significance are highlighted in order to bring awareness to the diversity of tilt-up markets. This year’s convention will be held Sept. 29 - Oct. 1 in San José, California.
As the education partner for this year’s event, SJSU will introduce students of the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering/Civil and Environmental Engineering Department to the benefits of tilt-up construction. The TCA annual convention has a programmatic emphasis on economy, efficiency, environmental responsibility, technology and safety – all of which are key points in the education of future engineers. Furthermore, the convention’s educational content is updated every year to reflect current industry issues, advancements in technology, changes in market conditions and building codes, which are also areas of overlap between the TCA membership and both construction management and engineering students.
"As we have done in past, including the convention in Houston last year, the TCA has partnered with a major institution responsible for the education of our industry's next generation of leaders," said Mitch Bloomquist, Managing Director for the TCA.
SJSU’s Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering/Civil and Environmental Engineering Department offers degree programs at both the undergraduate (Bachelor of Science) level and the graduate (Master of Science) level in civil engineering. At the graduate level, students can choose to specialize in Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Water Resources Engineering. Classroom instruction, conducted by award-winning professors, is supplemented by hands-on laboratory experience, field trips and the opportunity to participate in student clubs, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Concrete Institute, Associated General Contractors, Institute of Transportation Engineers and Water Environmental Federation.
The partnership between TCA and SJSU won’t end with the convention. Because of the common ground between the two entities, they will continue to work together to develop programming that benefits students.
"In addition to convention related activities, we look forward to working closely with SJSU to develop custom curriculum or education blocks to assist with the communication of tilt-up processes, benefits and possibilities in the classroom," said Bloomquist.
“The tilt-up construction process is an efficient building construction method. Its quick completion time with a cost-effective technique is a well-known benefit of tilt-up concrete construction,” said Jae H. Pyeon, Ph.D., Construction Engineering Program Coordinator of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at SJSU’s Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering. “It is a great opportunity for our students to have knowledge and skill of the superior tilt-up construction process. I am very proud to announce our partnership with the Tilt-Up Concrete Association.”
The TCA was founded in 1986 to improve the quality and acceptance of site-cast tilt-up construction, a construction method in which concrete wall panels are cast on-site and tilted into place. Tilt-up construction is one of the fastest growing industries, combining the advantages of reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction and minimal capital investment. For more information about the TCA, visit www.tilt-up.org or contact TCA headquarters at 319-895-6911 or info@tilt-up.org.
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