Omaha high school students get a real-world project redesigning Norris Middle School. 

A group of 77 Omaha North High students, looking to be the next architects, engineers and construction workers local companies are clamoring for, had the opportunity to tour a construction site at Norris Middle School.  

They took notes and asked questions about building codes and debris disposal, and listened as engineers talked about lights and insulation that have made buildings cheaper and more efficient to run.

Over the course of the spring semester, these students will participate in the new Omaha chapter of the national ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program. They will meet weekly with professional mentors from prominent Omaha firms — the 28 participating companies include Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Kiewit Corp., McCarthy Building Cos., DLR Group and Holland Basham Architects — to work on a hands-on project testing their design and collaboration skills.

Their goal is to design an addition for Norris Middle School, and in the process, school officials hope the students will gain valuable exposure and connections to future jobs.

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