With the rising cost of higher education in the U.S., it’s no mystery why many young people are opting out of advanced degrees and turning to trade jobs.

For companies such as Siplast, a leader in high-performance waterproofing and roofing materials, this presents an opportunity to recruit and appeal to a new generation of skilled workers who are looking for careers outside of a traditional office setting. Thus, Siplast invested in a state-of-the-art research and educational facility in Arkadelphia, Arkansas: the RISE Center.

Building the next generation of builders

Accessible to the local community, the RISE Center, which stands for “Research, Innovate, Support and Evolve,” serves as a research and education center for the construction and engineering professionals around the country as well as the surrounding community, who are invited to visit and experience the cutting-edge roofing and waterproofing technology for the built environment.

By offering local school tours and hands-on demonstrations, Siplast is helping to instill a sense of curiosity and excitement in the construction and engineering industry that might otherwise be unexplored by today’s youth.

Led by Kirk Goodrum, VP and GM of Siplast, the RISE Center is helping guide the future of construction and engineering in the region by providing hands-on education to the local schools and community. (In fact, students from Arkadelphia High School toured the facility in May.)

The tour immersed them in technical presentations and gave them the opportunity to interact with subject matter experts and scientists at the forefront of roofing, waterproofing, and building enclosure technology.