BGSU junior takes part in $202M Progressive Field renovation project through construction management co-op

Junior Daniel Mutti worked at the Cleveland Guardians' stadium as a project manager with Independence Excavating

By Laren Kowalczyk ‘07

As a Cleveland area native, Bowling Green State University junior Daniel Mutti grew up watching his hometown baseball team, the Cleveland Guardians, play at Progressive Field, which is now in its 30th year as the club's home field.

This summer, Mutti had an entirely new experience at the stadium, playing a role in its multi-million dollar renovation through a co-op he’s completing as part of the industry-regarded BGSU construction management program.

Mutti said the experience broadened his knowledge of the construction industry and provided invaluable hands-on experience that will bolster his academic success and future career opportunities.

“During the co-op, I got to use the information and skills I’ve learned at BGSU and put them to the test in the real world,” he said. “It’s a really neat way to see how the things we’re learning in class translate into industry.”

At BGSU, co-ops are an essential component of the construction management degree. They are integral to the University’s mission of providing students with opportunities to expand their educational experiences and career opportunities.

The Cooperative Education Program in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering is one of just three nationally recognized for meeting the gold standard of excellence by the Accreditation and Council for Co-op and Internship (ACCI).  

“BGSU has built a robust Cooperative Education Program that connects our students to valuable industry partners who are committed to helping our students grow in their discipline,” said Melissa Partin-Harding, the program’s associate director. “In addition to the practical industry experience, our students gain important career development skills and build a professional network that bolsters future career opportunities.”

Students in the construction management program, which recently received national accreditation, also learn alongside architecture students in state-of-the-art Kokosing Hall, mirroring how the two professions work together in the industry. The innovative approach is unique to the School of the Built Environment, which is the only of its kind in Ohio.

Mutti secured a co-op at Independence Excavating, Inc., a civil construction and demolition firm in Independence, Ohio, near Cleveland, after meeting with representatives at a career expo hosted by the Michael and Sara Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections, which partners with the Cooperative Education Program to connect students to co-ops and internships.

The Kuhlin Career Hub introduces students to its growing network of top local and national employer partners through events like career expos, prototyping experiences and alumni mentoring through the Falcon Professional Network.

During the summer, Mutti was a project manager for the demolition work that Independence Excavating completed on the stadium’s lower levels. He said the document-reading and structural design courses he took during his first two years at BGSU were integral to his success.

Mutti also took an opportunity during the co-op to learn about mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, which will be covered in a course he’s taking this fall.

Along with learning a new facet of construction, Mutti said he valued the opportunity to see the project through to completion.

“It’s not common during a three-month co-op to see a project from start to finish like this,” he said. “I was able to see almost every process that went into the project phase and see exactly how it worked. It was really interesting and such a beneficial experience.”