At Denark Construction, a construction internship goes far beyond the classroom. Our interns gain hands-on experience on active jobsites, where they learn how projects come together in real time—from coordination and scheduling to field verification and problem-solving.
This week, we’re highlighting learning experiences from the field, starting with Elizabeth “Lizzie” Lacy’s work at YMCA Apex Bank.
Building Knowledge from the Field
This week, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Lacy continued building her understanding of construction through a mix of technical learning, safety observation, and field-based coordination. Her update reflects one of the most valuable parts of an internship experience: connecting classroom knowledge with the practical realities of an active jobsite.
Learning Structural Steel from a Construction Management Perspective
A major focus of Lizzie’s week was structural steel. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that is manufactured in a controlled environment, such as a mill, before it is fabricated and delivered for construction. While steel is one of the most widely used and reliable building materials, it also requires careful planning and coordination.
As part of her internship experience, Lizzie participated in an internal structural steel learning session that expanded her understanding of how steel systems are planned, coordinated, and executed in the field. The presentation covered several key challenges associated with steel construction, including fireproofing requirements, corrosion protection, long lead times, complex connections, and tight construction tolerances. Each of these factors plays an important role in how steel is procured, fabricated, delivered, erected, and coordinated with the surrounding building systems.
The session also introduced a variety of structural steel systems, including beam-and-column framing, moment and braced frames, diaphragms, joist and deck systems, composite floor systems, pre-engineered metal buildings, and long-span systems. While Lizzie had previously encountered many of these concepts in school, reviewing them from a construction management perspective helped connect the technical design knowledge with the practical realities of sequencing, coordination, safety, and installation in the field.
Safety Starts with Fresh Eyes
Another key takeaway from the week was the importance of entering every job site with fresh eyes. Safety is not just about recognizing obvious hazards; it is about proactively identifying conditions that could create risk before they become incidents.
Lizzie noted that maintaining a safe work environment for subcontractors is always the top priority. Every person on site should be able to complete their work and return home safely at the end of the day.
She also observed that safety extends beyond people and includes protecting installed equipment. In confined spaces such as mechanical rooms, trades should never use mechanical equipment, such as an ERV, as a work platform. Doing so can damage the equipment, create unsafe working conditions, and potentially affect long-term system performance.
Lizzie also added several new terms to her construction vocabulary this week:
Reglet
An architectural metal molding attached to drywall to create a clean reveal.
Corner Bead
A 90-degree angled strip installed on the outside of wall or soffit corners to create a straight, durable, and seamless edge.
Pressure Testing
A method used to detect hidden plumbing leaks. A pressure gauge is connected to the system and air is introduced. If the pressure drops, it indicates a leak. In quieter environments, plumbers can often hear where air is escaping to locate the issue.
Diaphragm
A horizontal structural element at each floor or roof level that collects lateral forces and transfers them to the vertical structural system below. One example is metal decking attached to columns.
Connecting Technical Knowledge with Field Coordination
Overall, last week’s learnings gave Lizzie a stronger understanding of how building systems function and why proper trade coordination, safety awareness, and practical field judgment matter. Her experience reinforced that construction management requires both technical knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge in real job-site conditions.
From learning about steel systems to observing safety practices and expanding her construction vocabulary, Lizzie’s week reflects the value of hands-on experience and continued learning in the field.