If you’ve ever enjoyed the view of Chicago from the top of the John Hancock Center, thank College of Engineering alumnus John L. Tishman. He erected the Hancock Center and the twin towers of the World Trade Center – the world’s first three buildings to stand 100 stories tall and above. The G.G. Brown building is proud to display a plaque honoring John L. Tishman’s legacy.
Tishman was an active and generous alumnus. In 1998, the College awarded him the Alumni Society Medal, the most prestigious award the College can bestow on an alumnus. In 2000, he received an honorary degree from U-M to recognize his transformative contributions to construction management, as well as his civil and philanthropic activities. The Tishman Endowment, a $5 million gift, allowed CEE to launch the Tishman Construction Management Program (TCMP).
The program is a groundbreaking approach to education and research that reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of construction management, something that Tishman pioneered. It blends architecture, business and sciences with engineering to create an educational track that is truly distinctive.
The first TCMP graduate students enrolled in Fall 2012. “Entering the Tishman Program was like a dream come true,” said student Mayank Agarwal. “Such an education, a supportive peer group and the faculty’s experiences will all one day help me lead an organization as a project manager.”
TCMP students have the opportunity to interact with industry partners through the U-M Construction Industry Alliance Program (UMCIAP). This collaboration provides students with hands-on experience through research projects and internships with alliance industry members. The members benefit by building close working relationships with highly motivated students. Members can also guest-lecture, provide input on the curriculum and help define research projects in order to solve specific practice-related problems.
UMCIAP members include Barton Malow, DTE Energy, PMA Consultants, Turner, Walbridge, Walter P Moore and Skanska. “This is a great opportunity for construction-related industry professionals to have a forum within the civil department to discuss trends, research and current industry activities, as well as to support the current student population within the department,” Jennifer Macks of Skanska said.
The students are already taking advantage of what UMCIAP has to offer. “Attending the PMA Technologies conference allowed me to explore topics further in the direction of my interests,” student Sayali Kolte said. “I was exposed to the work done by PMA: risk analysis, challenges faced by the clients, innovative planning techniques, and a new arena in scheduling.”
These opportunities would not be possible without the vision and generosity of John L. Tishman. Learn more about the program here.
Ways to make an impact
Support from alumni and friends is key in ensuring our ability to provide life-changing scholarships, fellowships and more. Learn more about how to ensure your legacy and support the department.
