Tocci Building Companies has been internationally recognized for its pioneering use of technology in design and construction and continues to share that expertise with the next generation of builders. In January, Tocci virtual design and construction manager Pierce Reynoldson returned to teach at Yale University as an assistant professor at the Yale School of Architecture. This is the second year Reynoldson has taught at his alma mater, where he graduated first in his class.
Tocci is an industry pioneer in Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Reynoldson will serve as the BIM coordinator for the class, "Systems Integration in Development & Design."
In the course graduate students will create a conceptual design in-studio, including all architectural, HVAC, and structural elements of their projects. This year, the course focus is museums.
"I really enjoy teaching and training in general," said Reynoldson, who also regularly teaches Tocci employees and employees partnering with Tocci. "These student projects are more unconventional than you would normally find, so it allows them tothink more 'outside the box' than usual. I then incorporate my experience with the students into my work at Tocci; they're educating themselves and the industry."
Besides providing professional instruction to architecture students, the partnership has proven a useful recruiting opportunity in the past. Tocci employs two Yale Architecture School graduates- Reynoldson first met CEO John Tocci when he came to speak to one of Reynoldson's classes when Reynoldson was a student. Moises Berrun, who is also a graduate of Yale University, works for Tocci as a virtual design and construction modeler. Both Reynoldson and Berrun were attracted to Tocci for its commitment to innovation in construction, and Reynoldson hopes toinspire the same passion in his students.