This spring, students entering the Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller Construction Management Classroom in Carpenter Hall, Room 212, won’t be stepping into a traditional classroom. They’ll be entering an innovative learning environment built by Cougs and industry partners who believe in them, a space designed to reflect the collaborative, technology-driven environments they’ll encounter after graduation.
Made possible through generous investments from Prime Electric and MacDonald‑Miller Facility Solutions, the newly renovated classroom replaces outdated technology and AV equipment with a modern hub for hands-on learning, team-based collaboration, and advanced education in construction technology. Located in Carpenter Hall—originally built in 1915 and last renovated in 1992—the transformation of room 212 reflects a shared commitment between Washington State University and its industry partners to prepare the next generation of construction leaders in spaces that mirror today’s high-tech jobsites.
Seeing possibility: A shared commitment to workforce development
For Bob Ledford ’86, president and CEO of PRIME, and Gus Simonds ’84, former CEO of MacDonald-Miller, the decision to invest was personal and practical.
PRIME is one of the most successful electrical construction contractors on the West Coast, with deep experience across tech-forward regions including Seattle, Portland, and Silicon Valley. Its willingness to invest in education reflects not only Coug pride but a strategic understanding of workforce development. Likewise, MacDonald-Miller, a Pacific Northwest-based leader in mechanical construction, has built its reputation over six decades by handling complex mechanical systems and fostering lasting relationships across the region.
Both companies have long hired WSU graduates and interns and credit the university with producing professionals who are both technically skilled and grounded.
“I’m a Coug, and I take that seriously,” Ledford says. “Here at PRIME, we hire a lot of WSU graduates and interns, and we’ve had great luck with Wazzu kids. They’re down to earth. They’re tuned in, and they work hard.”
When Ledford toured the former classroom space, he immediately saw untapped potential. While functional, it wasn’t designed for the 21st-century tools and teamwork that now define construction management. PRIME wanted students exposed early to the kinds of environments they’ll encounter in the field. When Simonds learned about the classroom renovations, he was eager for MacDonald-Miller to partner with PRIME to make their shared vision a reality.
“Hands-on experiences and digital displays are always more powerful than just looking at a drawing,” Ledford says. “Students should be working together, using the same technology they’ll rely on in the real world. That’s what this classroom allows.”
For Rory Olson, who succeeded Simonds as CEO, MacDonald-Miller’s support of the classroom is also about giving back to a program that consistently produces sought-after graduates as well as about shaping the future of an industry. Olson himself is deeply involved with students, teaching in the very classroom his company helped create.
“I’m lucky enough to teach a class in Carpenter 212,” Olson says. “Discussions really benefit from the smaller size and more intimate setting. We hire a lot of students from the program, so we see this as an investment.”
Both leaders also see the classroom as an opportunity to broaden students’ understanding of career pathways within construction. While many students gravitate toward general contracting, Ledford and Olson note that specialty construction can offer opportunities to advance more quickly and engage more deeply with complex work.
“As a specialty contractor, you’re not just building a building,” Olson says. “You’re helping keep it running for its entire lifespan.”
Ledford agrees. “We’re not managing eight or ten projects—we’re doing 4,000 projects at any given time,” he explains. “You can rise in your career faster. I’ve seen people become the senior project manager on a $30 million job by the age of 25. It’s hands-on from day one.”
The renovated classroom supports those lessons, offering students space to dive deeper, collaborate more closely, and engage with the full lifecycle of construction projects.
A classroom built for modern learning
The new Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller Classroom features technology designed for virtual design and construction, digital project planning, and real-world simulation. It also expands the program’s capacity for group problem solving and cross-disciplinary collaboration with engineering and design students.
The space doubles as a preparation hub for student competition teams, which regularly tackle challenges in scheduling, estimating, jobsite safety, and project delivery—and consistently place at the top of regional and national competitions. For students, the classroom is both a proving ground and a preview of what’s ahead.
Faculty leaders see the state-of-the-art classroom as a tangible example of what makes WSU’s program unique.
“I would like to extend my sincere thank you to our friends at Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller for their most recent investment in construction management education here at WSU,” says Jason B. Peschel, director of the School of Design + Construction and associate dean for facilities modernization in Voiland College. “Their partnership exemplifies what is so great about the construction industry—a genuine willingness to help and support the next generation.”
Peschel notes that the technology upgrades do more than modernize a room; they open doors to new ways of teaching and learning.
“These upgrades will create opportunities not yet imagined while setting the bar for classroom configurations as the program looks to the future,” he says.
A foundation worth building on
With near-total job placement and strong industry connections, WSU’s construction management program has long stood out. The new classroom strengthens that foundation, demonstrating how private investment can accelerate student success and keep academic spaces aligned with industry realities.
“Donor support allows us to move faster and think bigger,” said Mike Connell, vice president for advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation. “When industry partners invest in spaces like this, they help the university turn bold ideas into real-world experiences for students and catalyze economic growth in communities throughout Washington and beyond.”
The Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller Classroom is a clear example of a place where generosity, expertise, and opportunity intersect. It shows what’s possible when industry leaders step forward, not just to support a program, but to champion the future of the profession itself. To learn more about how you can support WSU’s construction management program in Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, please contact Dana Sprouse by email at dana.sprouse@wsu.edu or by phone at (509) 335-2197. You can also visit us online to make a gift directly.