ITALY/NETHERLANDS

ECU students study construction methods in Europe

ECU construction management students toured The Colosseum in Rome as part of a study abroad trip. (Photos courtesy of Dr. Amin Akhnoukh)

From ancient sites to new-era buildings, a group of East Carolina University construction management students experienced it all during a recent study abroad trip to Italy and the Netherlands.

The 21 students in the construction quality and human resource management, and the global sustainable construction courses spent about two weeks examining various buildings and listening to lectures as part of the trip.

The group started in Rome.

“I showed them what was in Italy and correlated that to the class,” said Dr. Amin Akhnoukh, associate professor in the Department of Construction Management in the College of Engineering and Technology. “We went to old construction, like the Colosseum, the Roman ruins, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Stairs, all the famous places in Rome.”

After a look at the old, the students got a look at the new through Han University of Applied Sciences in Arnhem, Netherlands. Akhnoukh said the ECU students attended lectures and exchanged ideas with international and Dutch students. They toured modern Dutch construction, some of which included “natural” walls using vegetation.

“They showed us a new, green building and how they do their recycling and how they do their heating and air-conditioning with energy efficiency,” Akhnoukh said. “It was very innovative, how they take advantage of their waste and how they do their cooling for the buildings. It was a really neat experience for us.”

Akhnoukh believes the experience will help the students in their future careers.

“We’ll see the impact down the road,” he said. “It’s still early.”

Construction management students and Dr. Amin Akhnoukh, front row left, studied both old and modern buildings in Italy and the Netherlands.

ECU construction management students toured the Pantheon in Rome during their study abroad trip.