November 16, 2018
Architectural engineering and construction science students and faculty rank high in regional competition and leadership positions
Students and faculty from the Kansas State University GE Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science brought home top competition placements and elected leadership positions from the North Central Region, Region 4, mid-year meeting of the Associated Schools of Construction, Oct. 24-27, in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Region 4 includes the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Two student competition teams from the architectural engineering and construction science department placed in the top two of their respective divisions at the 26th annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 4 Construction Management Competition.
In the Design-Build division, the K-State team took first place. Team members from the department included Randal Chushuk, Nicholas Wintjen, Caleb Hughes, Jacob Lassman, Jordan Brunk and Ethan Meyers. Shannon Casebeer, assistant professor of architectural engineering and construction science, was their coach.
In the Commercial — New Construction division, the K-State team took second place. Team members from the department included Sam McArthur, Seth Blaha, Ryan Nordyke, Trenton Flagler, Dawson Borcherding and Chance Braun. Katie Loughmiller, assistant professor of architectural engineering and construction science, was their coach.
Ten of the 16 universities in the seven-state region were represented by 30 teams totaling 180 student participants in the competitions. Teams competed in five divisions using real plans and specifications from projects that had already been or currently are under construction. In an 18-hour period, students had to schedule, estimate, run cost analyses and resolve several management issues that arose during the project planning phase. A panel of judges from industry reviewed and graded the team proposals and presentations.
During the mid-year business meeting portion of the event, Loughmiller, also the Martin K. Eby Distinguished Professor in architectural engineering and construction science at K-State, was elected to a three-year term as director of the Associated Schools of Construction Region 4. In this position, she will be responsible for coordinating the annual Region 4 student competition and conference.
Casebeer, also the Jim and Carolyn Grier Construction Science Chair in architectural engineering and construction science at K-State, was elected to the position of assistant director of the Region 4 Associated Schools of Construction.