Double engineering major gives student all-encompassing perspective
Joe Pape enjoys the design process involved in civil engineering, but he also appreciates the hands-on aspect in construction engineering. That’s why he couldn’t pick just one major when he came to Iowa State.
Pape, who is a junior in civil and construction engineering, says that both fields also contribute to his overall goal of creating something that has a positive impact on the lives of others.
“With a background in both disciplines, I can build safe, sustainable and usable structures that people will interact with every day,” he said.
During a summer internship with Merit Construction in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Pape got a chance to put his education into practice. Pape was a member of a construction crew that built a brew house for the Cedar Ridge Winery in Swisher, Iowa. He began the project in the middle of the summer when the foundation was laid and was able to see most of the structure completed upon coming back to Ames. Pape was also responsible for organizing documents, purchase orders and plan files during his internship.
Pape attributes his success at his internship to Iowa State, “My civil and construction engineering classes gave me an understanding of the basic principles needed to construct a building, starting with the foundation. This basis helped me immensely during my internship, from working on a project to project management.”
While at Iowa State, Pape has learned about many topics, including structural analysis, a building’s makeup, and computer programs such as Revit. “It’s been really cool to have the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes in areas that pique my interest.”
Pape has also been involved in St. Thomas Aquinas church and is a member of the Associated General Contractors.