Students at ACE Leadership High School in Albuquerque recently found out that when it comes to a career in construction, there’s more than meets the eye. While touring the Albuquerque BioPark Penguin Chill jobsite, HB Construction’s Josh Kamplain briefed the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering students on what his job is like.

“As a project manager, I get to work with a lot of different groups to solve problems,” Mr. Kamplain explained, “most people don’t realize how complex and rewarding the construction side of it is.”

ACE Leadership Academy organizes classes around projects related to the Architecture, Construction, or Engineering industry, emphasizing hands-on experiences in addition to traditional coursework. During the Penguin Chill visit, students were eager to hear details on how the exhibit’s systems worked.

“With the life support system, chilled water equipment, and so much else, there’s a lot of technology in this facility to get excited about,” said Mr. Kamplain, “and it’s the result of professionals working across a wide range of fields.”

Designed by Van Gilbert Architects of Albuquerque, the 13,000 sq ft Penguin Chill facility is set to be completed by Spring of 2018. BioPark visitors can catch a glimpse of construction progress near the zoo’s main entrance.