Students visit Couture construction site in downtown Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Construction is underway at the site of the Couture building project in downtown Milwaukee.

Right now, crews are driving large concrete piles into the ground for the foundation of the soon-to-be 44-story building.

It was the perfect opportunity to have school students check out what goes into a large construction project like this. 

Twenty-eight pre-apprenticeship students from the Wauwatosa School District visited the site Monday morning, Dec. 20. 

They got an up-close view of the work and got to ask questions about the project and the construction apprenticeship program.

"It's exciting to have the youth out here because it really is the future of the construction industry," said Senior Project Manager Eric Sadler. "We can't et enough people to join the trades and it's a great, high-rewarding career that pays really well, and it's just getting people exposed to all the opportunities."

After the foundation is set, a tower crane will be built in early 2022 as the tower begins its ascent this summer.

Once the work is done, the Couture will be Milwaukee's fourth tallest building.