As part of the Doherty “Living Lab” initiative Worcester Public High School seniors with an interest in the construction trades were invited to the third annual career fair on January 11. More than 120 students from across the district signed up to participate in the day.

The Living Lab grew out of a long-standing partnership between the Worcester Public Schools and LPA|A; when Doherty High went into construction, the team seized the opportunity to use this project as an up-close, multi-faceted, real time educational program. This collaboration between LPA|A, Fontaine-Dimeo, Tishman, and the Worcester Public Schools provides site tours, programming, internships, and other opportunities to engage students who might not otherwise have exposure to the array of careers within this industry.

The day began with a brief overview of the career opportunities in the construction industry, and Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty welcomed students. Union representatives and employers had tables set up in various locations around the school giving students an opportunity to learn more about specific jobs in the field and to ask any questions they may have had.

Students were also taken through the Doherty High Construction site for a firsthand look at the amount of work and the different types of skills needed for a project of this scale.

The hope for this initiative is to expose students to the many career tracks within architecture, engineering and construction trades. Equity, inclusion, and diversity are critical drivers for the program, with the intention of bringing underrepresented groups into these fields, where there is high demand for workers in careers that pay self-sustaining wages.