NAHB Residential Construction Symposium

Each year, NAHB conducts a one-week Residential Construction Symposium for college students. Sponsored by NAHB’s National Housing Endowment, the symposium is open to students enrolled in construction management or trades programs at one of the 37 participating Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) schools. The list of schools can be found on the web page that explains eligibility requirements and how to apply for the symposium.

The 2020 symposium will take place in Washington, D.C. from June 22-26. Selected students will receive housing for six nights, travel assistance up to $300, and breakfast and lunch for the five days of the program.

The symposium is designed to give undergraduate and/or graduate students exposure to important aspects of the residential construction industry. Intensive educational sessions will address legal, regulatory and management issues related to:

• Workplace safety and health
• Land development
• Building codes
• Housing finance
• Liability and insurance
• Quality control
• Green building
• Environmental protection (stormwater, wetlands, endangered species, air quality, etc.)

Most of the educational sessions will be conducted at NAHB’s headquarters at 1201 15th Street, NW in Washington, DC – just six blocks from the White House. Students participating in the symposium will also visit the Home Innovation Research Labs in Maryland to learn about building codes, product testing, construction techniques and green building. They will also spend time with a team of builders and developers in the Washington area, where they will discuss business operations, management best practices, land development and regulatory compliance.

Students will have evenings free to visit the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the U.S. Capitol, and dozens of monuments and memorials found in Washington.

The application deadline for the 2020 symposium is March 27, 2020, and selected students will be notified by April 3, 2020. Details about the 2020 symposium will be shared as soon as they are finalized.

For additional information about the program please contact Blake Smith. You can learn more about NAHB at nahb.org.

Recommendation Forms

• Academic Recommendation Form
• Professional Recommendation Form