Justin Nicolas ’26 Wasting No Time Getting A Taste Of Real Construction-Site Management
Growing up with the greater Boston skyline in view, Justin Nicolas ’26 has long been fascinated by city development and business construction. Halfway through his college education, he’s poised for a career centered on those interests.
Call this summer his hands-on phase.
A construction management and architecture double major at Keene State, Justin is interning at Skanska, a 135-year-old project development and construction company active in the United States and Europe gaining on-the-job insight and experience in his desired profession.
Justin works at the firm’s Boston operation. He said he is learning daily, and his courses and class lessons have prepared him well to understand how a construction workplace functions and is managed.
“The most eye-opening thing about the internship has been seeing how the coordinators, owners, architects, and engineers work together as a team to complete a job safely and on time. I’m lucky I’ve had a great team to work with.”
“I see myself being a well-known architect or construction manager and having a family.”
I would describe myself as determined because once I have a mission, I need to complete it. … I chose Keene State for the academics it offered, and because the campus location and size felt like home.”
– Justin Nicolas
Justin, also minoring in business management, is a first-generation student, part of the 35 percent of Keene State students who are the first in their family to pursue a four-year undergraduate degree.
Our Owl students know the value of having options and charting diverse paths to success. Like Justin, more than half participate in field experiences or internships, strengthening their job qualifications and giving them a leg up in a competitive job market. It is also their way to connect with professionals, broaden their perspective, and learn about their field of study with a real front-row seat.
This new Keene State academic program prepares students for life and work in the construction industry: How to design, manage, and safely execute construction projects from conception through completion while learning and using technical, analytical, managerial, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
A Woburn, Massachusetts, native, Justin enjoys traveling, movies, and exploring the outdoors.
“I would describe myself as determined because once I have a mission I need to complete it. … I chose Keene State for the academics it offered, and because the campus location and size felt like home.”
His advice for high school students, whether they are decided or undecided about college, is this: “Pursue education — an education of your dreams — and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”
Learn more about Keene State’s construction management major
