06/03/2026
EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION AT CEDAR FALLS HYDRO
ECI was honored to host UW-Stout construction management students at Xcel Energy's Cedar Falls Hydroelectric Dam project, where our team is completing a multi-year, $50 million+ spillway modernization including tie-back anchors, mass concrete infill work, and future spillway gate installations.
Students from Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin's Heavy Construction Methods & Equipment class developed complete construction plans for the mass concrete infill portion of the project, then presented their proposals to Xcel Energy staff before touring the active jobsite to see how ECI is executing the work in real-world conditions. ECI’s Project Manager Justice Harvieux and project team walked students through our construction approach, comparing their classroom planning to the practical realities of heavy civil dam construction.
As Xcel Energy Project Manager Anthony Witkowski noted, connecting students with real infrastructure projects prepares the next generation of construction professionals while advancing clean energy and community sustainability. For ECI, these collaborations represent our commitment to developing industry talent and sharing the expertise that makes complex infrastructure projects successful. The future of construction depends on inspiring students like these UW-Stout graduates, who bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the challenging work of building and maintaining critical infrastructure.
Read the full article here: https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/news-center/xcel-energy-cedar-falls-hydro-project-supports-construction-students-industry-experiences
