Masonry Students Share Craft With Penn State Architecture Majors

More than 40 architecture students from The Pennsylvania State University traveled to Penn College's Construction Masonry Building on Wednesday, an annual visit that acquaints them with the practical upshot of their designs and reinforces the benefits of masonry as a construction medium. Aided by faculty and students from the college's School of Construction & Design Technologies, the Penn State guests moved from station to station in half-hour intervals, working hands-on with a variety of building materials – many of them donated by the college's industry partners.

− Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday

Building construction technology: masonry emphasis major Nicole Reyes-Molina, of Lancaster, demonstrates for visitors.

Demonstrating work with natural stone harvested from Bald Eagle Mountain is Wade A. Jacobson, of Alexandria, Va., enrolled in residential construction technology and management: building construction technology-masonry concentration.

In a literal dry run, a Penn State student finalizes a mortarless assembly of artificial stone before it is affixed to a nearby wall.

Construction technology instructor Robert P. Gresko shares his knowledge with visiting Penn State students.

One of the more popular stations challenges students to construct a brick archway ...

Richard R. Motter Jr., instructor of building construction masonry, puts his newest students at ease ...

Using his ever-present trowel as a directional guide, building construction masonry instructor Glenn R. Luse points out everything from work stations to rest rooms to emergency eye-wash sinks.

... before turning them loose on a block wall.

The day's guests waste no time in getting to work.

... and see if it remains standing when the supporting form is knocked free.