UNC Charlotte is building new futures for its student body. Starting in the fall, the Albert School of Construction will become the first school of construction in North Carolina to focus on the entire project life cycle.

"We'll go beyond construction management and include construction engineering, digital twinning, and data science," UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gabor explained to CLTtoday. "Students will have everything from a shovel to being able to manage the projects."

The new construction school will offer four degrees:

Bachelor's degree in construction engineering
Bachelor's degree in construction management
Bachelor's degree in civil engineering technology
Master's degree in construction and facilities engineering

Beyond the new school, an off-campus Construction Field Lab will be built off campus — across from Mallard Creek Church — and will be designed to create real-world construction sites and specialized research, like robotics, autonomous equipment, and field operations analytics.

Craig Albert, UNC Charlotte alum and President/COO of Bechtel Group Inc., shared his hopes for the new school during an announcement. | Photo by CLTtoday

UNC Charlotte anticipates students will see a 100% job placement and help contribute to Charlotte's reputation as one of the fastest-growing metros in the country. Food for thought: Charlotte Center City has $4 billion in projects underway.

"My hope is that students who come through this program get promoted more quickly than others because they have what it takes to build big projects," said UNC Charlotte alum Craig Albert. "They come out equipped for exactly what the industry needs."