The Construction Management student teams and faculty had an outstanding performance at the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Regional Competition securing 1st place in the Concrete Solutions category, 2nd place in the Electrical category, and a 3rd place finish in the Design-Build category.
Four student teams have been preparing since the start of the semester for this event, and traveled to Downers Grove, IL to test themselves against students from across the region and across the country. The competing teams showed an impressive effort and represented the Ball State Construction Managment program with professionalism and finesse.
Concrete Solutions Category – 1st PLACE
In the Concrete Solutions category, the team secured the coveted 1st place! Darryn Kuhl and Nick Taylor, co-captains and returning champions, led the way to our back-to-back victory with fellow team members Tyler Brown, Clayton Downey, Justin Gillespie, and Ethan Summerall, along with faculty coach Natalie Sanchez. This open category was a fierce battleground with teams from all over the nation, each in a 16 hour crunch to evaluate the project documents, identify the problem, and develop the solution to a multi-story municipal structure located on the steep elevation changes of Cincinnati’s terrain. The six-man team worked to establish material quantities and project estimate, logistics and pouring plan, site safety, and project scheduling for the project as a “Self-Performed Concrete Contractor.” The proposal, and previously provided RFQ response, was presented to and judged by the competition sponsor, Lithko Contracting.
Electrical Category – 2nd PLACE
Faculty coach Sherif Attallah led the Electrical category team to a thrilling 2nd place finish! Conner Morris led the team, which included Lukas Bluhm, Tania Hernandez, Bruno Jesus, Tom Sheahan, and Kristian Story. The category, sponsored by Aldridge Electric, centered on electrical infrastructure improvements to a 40+ year-old suburban wastewater plant that had to remain operational during the work.
Design-Build Category – 3rd PLACE
The Design-Build team co-captains Will Mowat and Katherine Wilkinson led the team, alongside Maya Breakah, Braden Freeman, Shane Gupton, and Hanna Pitonak clinched an exciting 3rd Place finish! Led by faculty coach Cynthia Hunter, the team’s hard work and creativity shone through. This interdisciplinary group, representing Construction Management, Interior Design, and Architecture, gave it their all. The category, sponsored by McCarthy, revolved around creating a new freestanding family health clinic on the Iowa Medical Center campus.
Heavy Civil Competition
New faculty coach Tamer Breakah led construction managements return to the Heavy Civil competition after a hiatus of almost a decade. This diverse group included majors from construction management and architecture. The team was competitive in this category but did not place. Josh Mann and Anna Hase were co-captains of the team that also included Killian Budd, Lucas Knopp, Nathan Knopp, and Melisa Magallanes. The proposed project involved the reconstruction of the Chicago Old Post Office west plaza. The category was sponsored by FH Paschen.
The amazing performance of our teams underscores that we’re not just competing; we’re dominating at the highest levels. Our students and coaches continue to shine brightly, proving our excellence on a national stage. What an incredible achievement!