Nicolas Ream
Q&A with graduate student Nicolas Ream
Nicolas Ream is pursuing a master’s degree in Real Estate and the Built Environment. The graduate student grew up in Montana around the construction industry. His family owns and operates Montana Heritage Home Builders, Inc., which specializes in luxury, high-performance, custom design-build homes. While he had a solid background context for the industry before arriving at the University of Denver, he wanted to learn more. In an email interview with the Daniels Newsroom, Ream shared more about his time on campus and how it deepened his knowledge base and prepared him for a career.
Q: What interested you in real estate and construction management?
A: I enjoy being able to help people achieve the American dream by designing and building their dream homes.
Q: What drew you to the program at the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management?
A: The program at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business is a superb program that integrates the full life cycle of the built environment; it is the only program of its kind within the nation that takes a holistic approach. Having the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management located within a business school is also unique. Daniels has a superb reputation as a top-ranked, AACSB-accredited school.
Q: What have been some of your favorite classes?
A: I think all of the courses and projects complement each other fantastically! Some of my favorite courses have been Architectural Planning and Design Management, Design Build Delivery, Sustainable Development/LEED, Lean Construction Project Management, and Strategic Intelligence and Integrated Project Leadership. In the courses, I learned highly in-demand skills and insights that give me a well-rounded understanding of the built environment. In the program, I have learned about innovative techniques, such as progressive design-build, lean construction practices and how to design a home.
Q: All degree programs at Daniels have experiential learning opportunities. Which did you pursue and how did you benefit by participating?
A: I participated in Race and Case, the Ivory Innovations Hack-a-House and the Solar Decathlon. I recommend doing student competitions because it allows one to test one’s knowledge of what one has learned in the classroom in a low-stakes environment. Student competitions are a fun and safe environment that enables one to work toward becoming their best self by attempting new things and gaining feedback from industry professionals.
Q: What were each of these experiences like?
A: The Solar Decathlon is a fantastic event where you get to apply all that you’ve learned in your program. The project encompasses much from physical building or remodeling a project, marketing the project, researching the area, etc. The benefit of the Solar Decathlon project is that you get to apply your knowledge in a “real-world” environment, while being able to ask faculty questions.
Race and Case is a great event that challenges you to think through a case with a multidisciplinary team. I also liked that the Race and Case competition had me step out of my comfort zone by having me ski for the first time and gave me the support and resources to do so!
Hack-a-House is a high-speed competition that requires careful allocation of time and resources to come to a solution within 24-hours, thus enhancing the skills of time management and resource management. I got much from all of the student competitions by testing my knowledge and gaining feedback from industry professionals if my work is valid, per se.
Q: You mentioned that your professors have been “magnificent.” Why?
A: I like that all of the professors have industry experience and industry credentials and are always working on self-improvement. The professors listen to what the industry requires.
Q: What advice do you have for new students?
A: My advice to new or incoming students is to get involved! Your experience at the University of Denver is what they make of it. I have been involved in many activities and organizations, including the Graduate Business Student Association, Real Estate and Construction Management Club, the Alpha Nu chapter of the Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity, Design-Build Institute of America, National Association of Home Builders, Graduate Student Ambassadors and Toastmasters.
Q: Why was it so helpful to be involved in student organizations, specifically the Real Estate and Construction Management Club (RECM)?
A: The Real Estate and Construction Management Club brings in leaders across the full spectrum of the real estate and the built environment industry. One of the benefits of the student organizations is that they introduce students to aspects of sectors and industries that the student may not know about. Furthermore, since the student organizations bring in industry leaders, the students can ask the executives for advice on how they got to their career position. I have known students who have received jobs after visiting with companies who have visited student organizations.
In serving as the RECM Club president, I have gained experience in leading an organization that will be helpful in my endeavors of being involved with organizations outside of school, such as the National Association of Home Builders. I recommend attending conferences and joining professional organizations because those events and organizations allow a student to connect with the industry.