MSU Denver Students Gain Hands-on Construction Experience
Interns are assisting in the development of the new Gina and Frank Day Health Institute building.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Internships
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Students at MSU Denver are actively working as construction management interns on the new 70,000-square-foot Gina and Frank Day Health Institute. The project allows students to integrate their academic schedules with real-world experience on the Denver campus.
Why it matters
The program provides students with essential professional experience while they pursue their degrees, allowing them to balance their education with specialized roles in construction management. This practical training initiative helps prepare the local workforce for the evolving demands of the industry.
The new facility spans 70,000 square feet across five stories, featuring specialized nursing labs and a demonstration kitchen. Construction job growth in Colorado reached 1,900 new positions in September.
The players
MSU Denver
This is a public university located in Denver that facilitates internship opportunities through its construction project management program.
River Jackson
He is an MSU Denver student who balances his academic coursework and baseball schedule with an internship at the health institute site.
Gina and Frank Day Health Institute
This is the name of the new educational and clinical facility currently under construction on the university campus.
The details
Interns, including student athlete River Jackson, manage critical responsibilities such as inspection scheduling and site walkthroughs for the building. These students work daily shifts from 6:30 to 11:30, applying their classroom studies directly to the campus health institute project.
Timeline
September 2026: Colorado added 1,900 construction jobs.
July 2027: Construction is expected to reach completion.
Fall 2027: The facility is scheduled to open for the semester.
Market Landscape
This program reflects a broader trend of universities integrating vocational training directly into campus infrastructure projects to meet industry demand. It positions MSU Denver graduates to fill labor gaps in the construction sector while providing students with unique competitive advantages.
Local students gain direct access to professional project management experience, which can lead to faster career placement upon graduation. For the Denver community, this initiative helps address current labor shortages in the construction industry.
The takeaway
Students looking to enter competitive fields should seek out internship programs that offer direct, on-site responsibilities related to their major. Balancing practical work with academic life requires strict scheduling, but it provides a significant advantage when transitioning to the workforce.
Further reading
Explore more opportunities for students through the Internships section of our site.
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