Jamaica College Students Gain Real‑World Construction Experience at Gore Homes’ Phoenix Park Village II Site

Recently, fifth form Technical Drawing students of Jamaica College (JC) participated in a structured field trip to Gore Homes’ Phoenix Park (PPV) site, as part of their School‑Based Assessments (SBAs). The visit formed an integral component of their SBA requirements, which mandate that students demonstrate practical knowledge of building substructure and superstructure, roofing details, and fundamental construction safety practices. While these concepts are introduced in the classroom, observing them within an active construction environment significantly enhances students’ understanding, confidence, and technical competence.

This visit, which further deepened the collaborative partnership between Jamaica College and Gore Homes, was made possible through the hospitality and support of the Gore site team. 

A cornerstone of this partnership is also the Construction Project Management (CPM) Course at Jamaica College, the brainchild of Mr. Phillip Gore, Executive Chairman of Gore Developments Limited and a proud JC Old Boy. Throughout the school year, this course sees professionals and close associates of Gore Homes with years of experience in the fields of architecture, quantity and land surveying, project management and civil engineering, donate their time to give back to the profession and introduce students to the ‘ins and outs’ of construction. The two week internship on GDL’s PPV site to culminate the CPM course is the highlight of the experience for students and provides them with practical exposure to many of the areas in which they learn about in the classroom.

To date, at least 4 students who were exposed to the CPM course have gone on to pursue Civil Engineering and 2 students have gone on to pursue Architecture at the tertiary level.

This shows first-hand the impact that imparting this knowledge, honing these skills, and igniting this passion for construction can have in advancing this profession and the skillsets of Jamaicans working in it in the years to come.