as a mechanical engineer what is my role during building construction?

Hello,
I worked for a General Contractor (GC) for 15 years building hospitals. I found the work very challenging and rewarding. There is a difference I want to point out to be able to provide better advice.

Mechanical engineers design the mechanical components of a building (The air and plumbing systems within a building).

A mechanical contractor performs their installation in accordance with the plans and specifications the mechanical engineer designed.

The mechanical engineer must answer questions that arise during install, review documents submitted by the mechanical contractor to ensure that the materials that will be installed are correct, attend meetings related to the construction project and go on jobsite walks to ensure the project is being built properly. The mechanical engineer will only be heavily involved in the mechanical (water and air) systems.

If you are interested in being a part of all the trades (all the building components) you may want to consider construction engineering. Many schools now offer this as a choice. It is very diverse and you spend your time coordinating tasks for all components of the building, including the mechanical systems. A construction engineer degree would lead to a career path with a General Contractor, whereas a mechanical engineer would be limited to designing and responding to questions for the mechanical scope only. With a GC you will also have the opportunity to work "in the field" learning first hand how the buildings get put together. This does not mean swinging a hammer, but learning how to manage all the subcontractors to build to a common schedule.

I wish you the best of luck, the construction environment can be stressful and it is very hard work, but it is also lucrative, fun, and very diverse. You certainly will never know what your day will hold.

Christine