Yard by cubic yard, concrete students widen sidewalks
Thursday, September 14, 2023
![DiBucci (signaling thumb's-up approval to concrete delivery by wheel loader) leads students outside the Electrical Technologies Center. The two-time Penn College alumnus joined the full-time faculty this semester.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Sidewalks1.jpg?itok=ZQXBc9dD)
Working under Thursday morning's plentiful sunshine and cooled by a pleasant breeze, construction students could be found in familiar circumstances: once again collaborating with General Services on outdoor improvements to the campus landscape.
Three sections of Concrete Construction (BCT238) classes taught by Franklin H. Reber Jr. and Joseph F. DiBucci have been busy since the start of the fall semester, pouring new walkways in several locations.
Students finished work south of the Bush Campus Center about two weeks ago, and now are furthering their lab skills outside buildings along the west side of the campus mall.
"Those sidewalks were sloping toward the building, not wide enough for students to pass each other and too narrow for GS equipment to apply snow melt in the wintertime without getting off the sidewalk," explained Chad L. Karstetter, horticulturist/grounds and motorpool manager. "When our equipment would fall off the edge of the sidewalk, we would drag mud onto the walking areas."
![With reinforcements standing by, students join their instructor in attacking the task at hand.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Sidewalks2_0.jpg?itok=rAnUNo0K)