Constructionarium was founded in 2003 by Stef Stefanou of John Doyle Construction in order to bridge the gap between the theory of engineering being taught at university and the practical skills which are needed in industry. Constructionarium brought together industry and academia to transform the teaching of practical skills.

Constructionarium designed a unique, 6-hectare site within the grounds of the National Construction College in 2004 and since then over 13,000 delegates have completed one of our experiential learning projects.

Each project has been developed in collaboration with industry, based on an iconic structure from around the world with scaled drawings and specifications that students must use to decide on their own project plan and team structure. Working in multi-disciplinary teams and acting as the ‘contractor’ they must complete the project, reporting to their client on costs and progress along the way as well as dealing with unexpected situations (such as a shortage of bolts or nesting birds) and weather conditions as they arise.

Collaboration with industry has been key to the success of Constructionarium and we have facilitated longstanding partnerships between contractors and academic institutions. Students gain commercial awareness and are mentored by experienced professionals and businesses are able to develop their own staff, spot emerging talent and invest in the next generation of construction professionals.