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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