Building the Future at the 2026 CIEF Oregon Design Build Competition®
This week, the JHC Companies team had the opportunity to spend two days at the Oregon Design Build Competition hosted by the Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) Oregon Chemeketa Community College — and it was one of the most inspiring events we’ve been part of this year.
Proud to Sponsor Tigard High School
As a proud sponsor of Tigard High School for the second consecutive year, JHC was excited to support students as they brought their shed project from paper to reality over two fast-paced days of construction.
REAL-WORLD CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE
The CIEF Design Build Competition gives high school students hands-on exposure to careers in construction, architecture, engineering, and the skilled trades. Teams are responsible for designing, planning, scheduling, and constructing a full-scale structure while working alongside industry mentors and judges.
Learning Through Hands-On Work
The CIEF Design Build Competition gives high school students hands-on exposure to careers in construction, architecture, engineering, and the skilled trades. Teams are responsible for designing, planning, scheduling, and constructing a full-scale structure while working alongside industry mentors and judges.
WHY PROGRAMS LIKE THIS MATTER
For our industry, programs like this matter. The future of construction depends on creating opportunities for students to experience the trades firsthand and understand the wide range of career paths available in the built environment. The competition creates a direct connection between education and industry while helping students develop leadership, communication, safety awareness, and technical skills in a real-world setting.
Investing in the Future of the Industry
What stood out most onsite was the energy and teamwork from the students. From framing walls and reading plans to solving problems in real time, these students were fully engaged in the process. You could see confidence growing with every task completed.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR
For our industry, programs like this matter. The future of construction depends on creating opportunities for students to experience the trades firsthand and understand the wide range of career paths available in the built environment. The competition creates a direct connection between education and industry while helping students develop leadership, communication, safety awareness, and technical skills in a real-world setting.
JHC is Proud to Support the Next Generation
We’re grateful to support programs that invest in the next generation of builders and makers, and we’re proud of the hard work the Tigard team put in throughout the competition.
Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, instructors, mentors, and sponsors who helped make this event possible — and congratulations to all of the students who stepped onto the jobsite and gave it their all.
We’re already looking forward to next year.
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For over 45 years, JHC Companies has helped owners, developers, brokers, and architects navigate commercial construction across Oregon and Washington.