Who did you meet with today?

Today we met with Cameron Smith, Jared Gragg, and Nate Hall.

Where do they work? What does the company do?

They work for Overaa, a construction company. Right now, they are working on the Palace Theater in Oakland to make it into a new home for BayTech Charter School.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

Today we learned about Overaa and what they did. We also learned about the process of converting a former theater into a school. A highlight was when we toured the active construction zone, then finished off with getting a deep look into the construction plans and a bit of computer-aided project designs.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development? 

We received insight into how construction companies operate and what measures they must take to ensure a safe and efficient construction process. We also learned about the various conditions and requirements set by the City of Oakland in order for the construction of the BayTech school to occur.

What did you find most interesting about the field after today?

What I found most interesting about today was the fact that the site we visited was a historical building, as it was over 100 years old. That meant that more permits were required for the construction to begin; it also meant that certain things had to be preserved from the initial state of construction. For example, specific water fountains were preserved, and specific flooring was also preserved.