Elijah Rayford, BPS Construction Management ’25, had a lot of factors in mind when searching for the right college—location, reputation, community—and Pratt stood out with its history, lush campus, and a network of 65,000 alumni who advance the creative economy and make a positive impact in New York City and around the world.
He chose to enroll in the Construction Management program.
“Buildings aren’t just concrete and steel,” he said, explaining his decision. “You’re really creating spaces for memories. I chose construction management because I wanted to make an impact on people’s lives and build that favorite park or favorite museum or that first apartment that you moved into.”
Coming to Brooklyn from Arizona at 17 was an exciting challenge that Rayford approached with his guiding philosophy of 5 Ps—Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Many of his classes were at Pratt’s Manhattan campus on 14th Street, so he took the opportunity of his daily subway commute to explore the city.
“I let places find me,” he said. “I would get on the train and then get off at a stop and just walk around and find coffee spots, thrift shops, different parks. Brooklyn Bridge Park has to be my favorite part of the city. It’s so serene and calming. It’s beautiful.”
From the Ground Up
Rayford appreciated the small class sizes in the Construction Management program, which allowed him to ask questions and get personalized instruction from professors who had extensive industry experience.
He learned the ins and outs of building renovation and restoration, important knowledge in the context of New York City’s Landmarks Law, as well as the intricacies of the city’s zoning and building codes. He learned how to use industry-standard project management, estimating, and scheduling software, and he became acquainted with materials such as concrete, steel, and wood through dedicated classes and visits to job sites and concrete testing labs.
“What I love about my career choice is that nothing is face value,” he said. “There’s so much more to it than what you first think. Like with concrete, the process changes if it’s being used for a patio rather than just a wall slab.”
During his second and third years, Rayford traveled with other students to Kufstein, Austria, to attend the Kufstein WinterSchool international student competition, where he competed alongside undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. Teams were asked to develop a comprehensive redevelopment and sustainability plan for the local neighborhood, and the experience revealed Rayford’s talent for project management.
“I learned that I could really manage the group and give them direction,” he said. “Being a real construction manager is all about playing to everyone’s strengths.”
Later classes on real estate development and project management demonstrated the financial and logistical complexities of the field, concepts he explored in depth through his final project proposal for the Hollow Fields comfort station on Staten Island.
Making Improvements
From his earliest days on campus, Rayford brought a mindset of intentional leadership and proactive problem-solving to his roles in student government and as a resident advisor.
Inspired by the 5 Ps, he approached student life with the lens of a strategist, listening, surveying, and identifying areas to further enhance the campus experience. Rayford collaborated with fellow students and departments to make it easier to navigate ARC operating hours, access studio resources, and get the most out of shared residential spaces.
He also served on the food committee, conducted peer surveys, and supported athletic programs to help elevate the sense of belonging on campus. For Rayford, student leadership was about contributing to the vibrancy of campus life, one initiative at a time. He received the “Best School Spirit” superlative award in high school for a reason.
“If there was ever a time that my schedule allowed me to attend a game, I was there,” he said. “Even if it was for five minutes or ten minutes, I would go to be supportive—soccer games, basketball games, women’s and men’s volleyball games. I wish I could have made it to equestrian.”
Dreaming Big
Rayford’s senior thesis was a chance to put into practice the knowledge and skills he had gained. The project involved a comprehensive proposal to manage a public construction project for NYC Parks, and it brought together his budgeting, scheduling, sustainability planning, team structuring, and presentation abilities. He relied on his proficiency with tools like Primavera, Procore, and Microsoft Excel to organize and execute the project.
“We were figuring out the staffing chart, the schedule, the costs of different trades and laborers, the site mobilization, the trash collection, the security, the site logistics, and safety,” he said. “It was basically a crash course in doing the job. And it prepared me for exactly what I’d be doing next.”
Upon graduating, he started a 14-week internship at the real estate project and cost management consultancy Gardiner & Theobald, where he served as a project and cost management intern. “It was everything I hoped for,” he said. “I was involved, responsible, and constantly learning.”
The experience solidified his interest in client-side roles—balancing costs, project timelines, procurement, and strategic decision-making to bring a client’s vision to life—and his dedication paid off. Rayford received a full-time job offer at the end of his internship.
“The company culture is very authentic and warm,” he said. “Everyone wants to help each other, and everyone works hard. That’s something I really do enjoy and appreciate.”
