Civil Engineering and Architecture Class Field Trip Experience
Launch the media gallery 1 playerCivil Engineering and Architecture students embarked on a field trip to the Fehr-Graham Rockford office on Thursday, April 11. Spearheaded by their Project Lead the Way teacher, Mr. Stauffer, and joined by Mrs. Bollman, the high school’s College/Career Coach, the excursion promised to be an enriching experience for young minds eager to delve into the world of civil infrastructure and design.
Upon entering the Fehr-Graham Rockford office, the students could see several employees diligently at work in cubicles behind the reception desk. Students were welcomed into the company boardroom, where they were greeted by Seth Gronewold and Tyler Nelson. Seth, a Forreston alum, provided valuable insights into the company's operations. Many of the students learned that Fehr Graham had repurposed an old brewery on Prairie Street, which had laid dormant for several years, into their downtown Rockford office space.
Both host engineers emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of projects, explaining how various branches of engineering collaborate seamlessly to bring project designs to completion. This team collaboration between different engineering specialties allows Fehr Graham to design and innovate over a diverse array of projects in our region.
Seth Gronewold gave an example of the collaboration that goes into upgrading a water treatment well. A surveying technician uses a three-dimensional scanner device that simultaneously captures photo imaging along with elevations and positional information. This large collection of information by the scanner then creates drawings of a well facility to allow designers to work from. This information is converted into technical drawings for engineers to know the system parts and area limitations they must work within for a project.
A tour around the office followed the presentation. One stop included a demonstration in the CAD department by Senior Engineering Technician, Bob Frey. A second stop went upstairs to an outside deck overlooking the Rock River, which allowed views of past downtown projects that involved Fehr Graham employees.
At the end of the tour several students found reassurance from our host engineers advice. They could pursue a general engineering studies program at a local community college before transferring into a 4-year program. As Gronewold explained, this would allow students to explore different areas of interest before specializing. Community college is also a less expensive route to complete math and other general education requirements, as long as students first check the program requirements at the school they transfer to.
The field trip proved to be an eye-opening experience for the students, offering a glimpse beyond the theoretical knowledge imparted in classrooms. The visit to the Fehr-Graham Rockford office allowed students to learn real-world applications and the collaborative efforts involved in local engineering projects.