University of Nebraska

Academic Program

The Mechanical-Electrical Specialty Contracting (MESC) student chapter is a part of the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, a multi-disciplinary School that includes Construction Management, Construction Engineering, and Architectural Engineering programs. The MESC student chapter recruits students from both the Omaha and Lincoln campuses and from all three School disciplines, along with students from Mechanical Engineering and Architecture. This multi-disciplinary approach prepares students for our multi-disciplinary industry and is a key element in designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining high-performance buildings.  

The Durham School has invested heavily in new computer laboratories, team-based learning laboratories, and estimating laboratories. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is used throughout the curriculum to ensure students have mastery of both BIM and new technologies, such as Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Big Data. 

One of the unique aspects of our relationship with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Omaha is MCAO’s sponsorship of the Leadership Academy. The entrance process into the Leadership Academy is very rigorous and includes an interview with local MCAO contractors. If a student is selected for the Leadership Academy, they are assigned a mentor who is a member of MCAO and are also assured an internship with an MCAO contractor.  

Awards & Activities

MESC has been very successful throughout its 20-year history. Its student competition team has been in the final four of the MCAA student competition the past two years, 2016 and 2017, and won the championship in 2016. The chapter has also been awarded a Chapter of Excellence grant each year it has been offered. The MESC student chapter volunteers on Habitat for Humanity projects and on ‘Heats On’ in both Lincoln and Omaha.