St. Louis Students Get Hands-On Look at Construction Careers Through I Built This! Event
Key Highlights
- Students rotate through interactive stations linking classroom skills to real-world applications
- Industry professionals share information about scholarships, internships, and apprenticeships available through ConstructReach's network
- Local and national sponsors, including Novak Construction and Target, guide students through jobsite-style activities, promoting industry engagement and mentorship
ST. LOUIS, MO — ConstructReach will host its signature I Built This! workforce development event on Monday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphy Construction’s warehouse facility, 1400 N. Price Road. The program connects local high school students with contractors, tradespeople, and industry leaders through hands-on demonstrations and career-focused mentoring.
Hands-On Exposure to Construction Careers
Students will rotate through interactive stations that highlight electrical wiring, fixture installation, flooring, and other building activities led by local and national partners. The goal: show how classroom learning translates into practical jobsite skills while highlighting pathways into construction.
Mentorship and Pathways Into the Industry
Alongside demonstrations, students will hear directly from professionals about scholarships, internships, and apprenticeship opportunities available through ConstructReach’s nationwide contractor and corporate network.
“St. Louis is our home base, and we’re excited to bring the ‘I built this!’ experience back to the community where ConstructReach began,” said Paul Robinson, founder and CEO of ConstructReach. “This event gives young people—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds in the industry—the chance to discover that construction offers rewarding, innovative, and impactful careers. With more than half of skilled trade workers nearing retirement, we need to inspire and equip the next generation today. If not, there will be a significant infrastructure crisis nationwide. That’s why ConstructReach is focused on training—building skills to communicate across generations, bridge differences, and strengthen cross-functional teams; community engagement like this event; and recruitment and retention support.”
Local Contractors and National Brands On-Site
Sponsors and industry partners—including Novak Construction, Concrete Strategies, O.J. Laughlin Plumbing, Vision Electric, and Murphy Mechanical—will guide students through jobsite-style activities at Murphy Construction’s fabrication facility. Snacks and boxed lunches will be provided.
Building a Diverse Workforce Pipeline
Since its launch in 2018, ConstructReach has engaged nearly 4,000 students and partnered with more than 200 contractors and brands—including Target, Nordstrom, and Walgreens—alongside 300+ educators nationwide. Its I Built This! events have been hosted in Miami, Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, and now return to St. Louis, with the mission of diversifying and strengthening the construction workforce.
For more details or to participate in the St. Louis event, visit constructreach.com/i-built-this-st-louis-mo.
Note: this press release was rewritten with help from generative AI.