PE Intern Warren Cook is a rising sophomore at Purdue University majoring in Construction Management, a rewarding pathway to a fulfilling, long-lasting career in construction.
When the time came for Project Engineer (PE) Intern Warren Cook to declare his major at Purdue University, he knew he wanted to choose one that would not only open opportunities to contribute his talents and skillsets to future employers but also continuously challenge him to set new professional goals, seek and absorb new knowledge, and evolve into the best version of himself.
Today, he's a rising sophomore majoring in Construction Management, a rewarding pathway to a fulfilling, long-lasting career in construction-an industry that offers no shortage of such challenges thanks to its daily onslaught of demands, hurdles, and puzzles to solve with team members, clients, trade partners, and architects.
"The day-to-day aspects of the construction industry really intrigue me," he says. "Right when you think everything is going to plan, an unexpected issue can arise that challenges everyone to adapt and rework processes to find a plausible solution. Being on a team and contributing to the solution is very satisfying."
Now that he's a PE intern at the Genesis Marina TI, Warren's excited to get to work and experience that hard-earned sense of satisfaction on the job site for the first time. In addition to contributing to his team however he can, he looks forward to gaining a better understanding of construction's various career paths, as he's still considering which track to pursue professionally. So far, he's had the opportunity to work on layouts, QC, submittals, RFIs, and several miscellaneous tasks with which his internship manager has entrusted him.
"I really enjoy being part of the whole inter-connected system of construction," Warren says. "It's such a people-oriented world-from skilled trade professionals in the field to project managers in the office, everyone depends on one another and is essential to project delivery. Throughout my career, I'll strive to be a leader who uplifts my co-workers through my actions and words and make a positive difference in whatever way possible."
As a Bay Area native, Warren's grateful to get his start in the construction industry with Webcor - a general contractor that's spent the last five decades building everything from airport terminals at SFO International Airport to student housing at UC Berkeley. The company's reputation as a respected Bay Area builder powered by an exemplary employee culture quickly distinguished it amongst a sea of competitors in Warren's search for large Bay Area-based general contractors, Warren says.
"I've really enjoyed Webcor's focus on community, both within and outside the company," he continues. "Connecting with my fellow Bay Area-based PE interns over a game of softball is just one example of the community-building experiences we've been offered so far. That game has become one of my favorite Webcor memories!
"The entire intern experience has been such a rewarding experience already. Every morning, I wake up looking forward to the work day ahead-something exciting comes up literally every hour on this job!"
In his free time, Warren enjoys hiking anywhere with a great view, visiting unique hidden gems throughout the Bay Area, spending time with his family, and woodworking-currently, he's working on a canoe paddle composed of recycled scrap wood!
Fourteen months after breaking ground in April 2022, the Mission Rock Parcel F team celebrated topping out the residential high-rise's 24th floor.
Fourteen months after breaking ground in April 2022, the Mission Rock Parcel F team celebrated topping out the residential high-rise's 24th floor 26 days ahead of schedule with zero lost-time incidents. This momentous achievement was a direct result of the perseverance and unrelenting efforts from Webcor Concrete and the team's trade partners, who skillfully tackled several unprecedented challenges that arose in the aftermath of San Francisco's exceptionally rough winter.
"It was gratifying to celebrate the dedicated field professionals with whom we've partnered and the family-like sense of community felt between all trades," says Construction Manager Jim Tomaszewski. "Webcor Concrete Sr. Superintendent Sergio Valencia was an incredible leader on this project."
The entire team gathered for a catered lunch of fresh Mexican food to celebrate Parcel F's team members and overall progress, which has been advancing at a rapid pace thanks to the One Webcor team's and trade partners' unwavering dedication to the project over the last year. Representatives from partner companies Tishman Speyer (client), SF Giants (client), Studio Gang (architect), Marelich Mechanical, Cupertino Electric, Allied Fire, Critchfield Mechanical, and Pacific Steel Group (PSG) all came out to celebrate with the Webcor team.
Speakers included:
About Mission Rock Parcel F
Parcel F is one of two projects Webcor's delivering for Mission Rock Partners, the second being Mission Rock Horizontal-Street Improvement Package (SIP) & China Basin Park (CBP). Parcel F expects to achieve LEED Gold® certification. Once complete, the 315,000-square-foot, 254-unit residential tower will offer 96 apartments and ample amenity and retail space. The building's podium-aka the Mesa-creates multiple terrace levels that overlook the lively public space, cultivating an open community atmosphere.
With Webcor's BBQ rig in tow, Patrick Haley and Greg Scott grilled their way to first place finish at the King of the County BBQ & Music Festival.
With Webcor's barbecue rig in tow, Patrick Haley (Webcor Concrete Sr. Superintendent) and Greg Scott (Webcor Concrete Project Director) grilled their way to first place finish in the Chef's Choice category at the King of the County BBQ & Music Festival on Father's Day in Martinez, California.
The festival featured local food, entertainment, vendors, a kids zone, and the Backyard BBQ Competition, where Patrick and Greg competed in three categories, winning with Patrick's Armadillo Eggs (cream cheese and cheddar cheese stuffed in a jalapeno, wrapped in sausage that is wrapped in bacon).
"Our chicken and ribs were good; the ribs finished in fourth place," says Greg, noting that this was their first competition. "We pulled in at 6:30 a.m., had a fire going by 7:30, and had everything turned in by 2 p.m."
Webcor visitors included Tanja Huni, Catherine Joslin, and Mike Gilmore (who provided some of the photos), among others.
"It was a great experience," Greg says, "and the first-place trophy made it worth the hard work.
"Pat is a great grill master and I was happy to be able to be his sous chef for the experience," he adds. "The flavors on everything we cooked were amazing and we took home some notes to make our entries even better next time around."
