An architecture firm from Dallas has set up an office in Manhattan to provide training for architectural engineering students on real projects.

Purdy McGuire Inc. purchased office space at 1143 Anderson Ave., across the street from Nichols Hall.

“We are here to support the students,” said Kip Hanzlicek, president of Purdy-McGuire and a K-State alumnus. “The projects they work on are out of Dallas and nationwide. We won’t pursue any jobs in Manhattan or take away from the firms already established in Manhattan.”

The office supports 20 students and one engineer from Purdy-McGuire. Every eight to 10 weeks, a new engineer rotates in to provide expertise in specific areas of engineering like electrical, mechanical, plumbing, heating ventilation and air conditioning.

Each of the 20 students are dedicated to an individual in Dallas. That person develops a concept and the student draws out the duct work, electrical or mechanical structures in the building designs, Hanzlicek said. The work uses computer-aided design and the Internet.

“We saw an opportunity to develop their careers while going to school as well as giving us additional engineering resources for our firm,” Hanzlicek said.

Purdy-McGuire views this as a long-term project with K-State. Hanzlicek said during the next 10 years, many of their engineers will  retire or reach retirement age. The engineers being hired are not keeping up with the retirees. This partnering with K-State helps recruit more engineers and provides students with added experience on their résumés.

“I think with today’s economic environment, engineering firms working on projects utilizing students to develop the CAD benefit the students and the firm,” said Professor David Fritchen, architectural engineering and construction science.

Fritchen said the graduates from K-State’s five-year architectural engineering program are highly sought after in the market place. This gives them the practical experience necessary to get better jobs.

“It’s a great continuing education tool. I have been able to apply what I know and what I am learning currently,” said Reid Jennings, senior in architectural engineering.

Jennings interned for Purdy-McGuire during summer 2008 and has worked their this fall.

“I get to see a project from start to finish,” Jennings said. “That’s one benefit, because you don’t get to see that with a typical internship.”

Hanzlicek said Purdy-McGuire was not large enough to hire all graduates, but other firms have heard what he is doing and have set up offices in Manhattan to offer architectural engineering students more internship opportunities and possible careers after graduation