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The last week of February is a busy week for North Dakota State College of Science students, as it's the last week of classes before spring break. 

For 12 students in the construction management and architectural modeling and design technology programs, it was even busier than usual. Along with their instructor, Lara Lekang, the students traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the International Builders' Show (IBS). 

The students presented projects at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition while at the IBS.

NDSCS students go through an application process for this project, starting at the beginning of the school year. Their work must be submitted prior to Christmas break at the end of first semester. Once classes resume in the second semester, the students put it all together and start the presentation portion of the project. 

"These projects are a commitment for the students,” Lekang said. “They learn to understand and work through it. It really brings together all the ‘whys’ behind what they are learning in their classes.”

Lekang, a Wahpeton native, graduated from the very program she now teaches at NDSCS. For the past seven years she has been the associate professor/program coordinator in the architectural modeling and design program.

Lekang has brought with her experience from the commercial and residential industry. In the past few years, NDSCS has restructured the architectural program from drafting into 3D modeling. This was driven by the need to keep up with current industry standards. Now, having become a multi-disciplinary program, it allows students to be aware of the different avenues their careers can take.

“Giving students various construction experience builds confidence for when they enter the workforce,” Lekang said.

Students who are selected to compete get a pre-assigned project, often one that has already been fully constructed in the real world. The project expectations are quite involved. It focuses on the construction schedule, estimates, a management plan and detailed drawings. Once it is put together on paper, it is a very thick packet.

“The judges are looking for completeness,” Lekang said. “Accuracy in the students' approach to the problem, the sequence of the schedule and this leads to problem-solving and troubleshooting when things don’t go as planned.” 

Lekang had two teams compete this year and both teams placed. One team took home third place and the other fifth place.

“I am proud of the students' teamwork, efficiency, communication and all the time they put in,” Lekang said. “NDSCS students rose to the occasion.”

When not competing, the students had a chance to see all the IBS had to offer. According to the NAHB, more than 76,000 builders, remodelers, developers and other building professionals filled the Las Vegas Convention Center for the event.

Lekang also uses this event to network with industry professionals who collaborate with NDSCS. Building relationships helps the programs grow and succeed.

“It is eye-opening for students to see how it is all tied together,” Lekang said.

Article published by Bobbi Steffens at Wahpeton Daily News on March 9, 2024. 

NDSCS students from the Architectural Modeling and Design Technology program won 2nd place in the Associates degree program category of the NAHB Student Competition held during the 2023 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Las Vegas, NV. Their design proposal and presentation were showcased against seven comparable college programs throughout the United States. In total, 63 teams representing universities, community colleges, high schools, and career technical schools across the U.S. participated in the annual student competition.

For more than 30 years, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has held a student construction design competition during the International Builders’ Show (IBS). This annual competition has been a memorable part of the IBS, and gives student members of NAHB the opportunity to apply the skills learned in the classroom to a real construction project. Teams do this by completing a management project and submitting it to the construction company executives who act as judges.

During the fall semester, students form teams and prepare a written proposal to solve real-life construction management problems. Each team is given a design problem and building criteria, and the students were required to produce drawings and sketches to assist in developing the estimate, documenting the quantities, and showcasing their knowledge of the constructability of the home. They were also required to produce a detailed estimate of the required material and labor for their plan, along with a complete construction time schedule for the project (outlining a logical construction sequence). Teams then travel to the IBS and present their solutions to a judging panel of residential construction industry experts. This year’s IBS competition presentations were held January 30–February 1, 2023, where all the student teams presented their project and materials, and answered questions from the judges.

“NDSCS has competed nationally at the International Builders Show for 13 years and we always have awesome lessons to show for the hard work that is put forth. Seeing the students work as a team through the semester while networking and finding solutions to difficult (and real-life) problems that they can push forward to accomplish a big task,” said Lara Lekang, NDSCS Architectural Modeling & Design associate professor. “I’m so proud of what they accomplished and received with their 2nd place spot. We all had a great time in Las Vegas – seeing ‘big, fancy’ homes, the newest technology, and of course the sites of the city. I hope the students remember this time fondly as they grow into young professionals. The construction industry has made it known that they support the student’s hard work and future endeavors!”

Charner Rodgers, Ph.D., chair of the NAHB Student Chapter Advisory Board and construction management professor at the New School of Architecture & Design said of the student competitors, “These students are the future leaders of the construction industry, and they deserve recognition for their impressive commitment to participating in the competition.”

"Student teams networked with other students, industry professionals, and builder members all week long,” said competition consultant, Scott Kelting, Ph.D., Kelting Consulting. “You can really see that this industry is one big community, and how the competition better prepares students for career opportunities in all aspects of home building."

Photo Caption: (Back Row - L to R) Advisor: Lara Lekang, Competing Members: Shayne Hoffman, Brooke Glynn, Madison Semerad, Annah Evavold, Cade Shoemaker (Front Row L to R) Alternates: David Hartung, Rylee Groth, Meghan Roller, Emily Schmidt