Building giant OHL names FIU School of Construction


Global construction multinational Obrascon Huarte Lain (OHL) has partnered with FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing to create the OHL School of Construction, the first named school in the history of the college.

The OHL School of Construction’s dedication will take place at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 in the Engineering Center, 10555 West Flagler Street in West Miami-Dade. At 3:15 p.m. President and Chairman of the OHL Board of Directors Juan-Miguel Villar Mir will deliver a lecture titled “OHL Group – A Case Study in Entrepreneurial Success.”

“FIU’s program will move forward at a faster pace with OHL’s investment in and commitment to mutual values of excellence, sustainability, diversity, progress, economic development and quality of life,” said Villar Mir, who acquired Obrascon when the company was on the verge of disappearing in 1987 and, through a series of mergers, restructured the activities of the company and created the OHL Group which is now a multinational traded on the Bolsa de Madrid with sales in the order of $6.3 billion. “We look for the OHL School of Construction to become one of the top programs of its kind in the U.S. and abroad.”

Since its establishment in Spain in 1911, OHL has evolved into one of the world’s largest construction corporations, leading major projects in more than 50 countries. In alignment with the expansion priorities of OHL, the partnership with FIU will address the demand for diverse construction industry professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Previously known as the Department of Construction Management, the OHL School of Construction’s faculty is involved in funded research projects and boasts the largest construction management graduate program in Florida.

“With a global presence in the Dominican Republic and Panama, and strong executive and online offerings, our construction program is already Worlds Ahead,” said Dean of the FIU College of Engineering and Computing Amir Mirmiran. “This generous gift will place the OHL School of Construction in an elite group of national and international peers.”

Established in 1973, the construction management program at FIU is a leading local and national supplier of construction management executives, having educated more than 1,500 professionals, who are employed by all major construction companies in the region.

“The OHL School of Construction will be known as a global center for excellence in construction education. The school will prepare future generations of construction management professionals to build our future, transforming South Florida and beyond,” said Director of the OHL School of Construction Irtishad Ahmad.

FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg noted that the new school’s mission is perfectly aligned with the university’s community engagement mission.

“At FIU we view ourselves as problem solvers for the community – in South Florida and around the world,” said Rosenberg. “As the economy improves, OHL’s support will ensure that our school is poised to provide the kind of education that will allow our graduates to not only take good jobs, but to create good jobs.”

For more information, please contact Director of Development for the College of Engineering and Computing Susan Jay at 305-348-0230.