MANHATTAN — A team of students from the GE Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science brought home two awards from a design competition hosted by the Architectural Engineering Institute, or AEI, held April 13 in Denver.

The AEI International Student Design Competition is an event that brings together talented architectural engineering students from around the world to showcase their skills and creativity in designing buildings that are innovative, forward-thinking and sustainable. For the competition, the K-State team designed the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and structural systems and developed the construction estimate and schedule for the Kaleidium Children’s Museum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The structural team, consisting of architectural engineering graduate students Marissa Ober, Alden, and Cameron Hicks, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, took home first place in the structural design category for their innovative and sustainable design of the children’s museum. The team’s design impressed the judges with its unique and creative approach to the structural design of the museum, showcasing their exceptional knowledge of advanced structural systems design.

Additionally, the entire team secured the Green Education Challenge Award. This award recognizes the team’s outstanding efforts in incorporating learning opportunities within the design and construction of the museum and engaging children in STEM education. The design incorporated cutting-edge techniques and sustainable materials to create a safe, functional and visually appealing space for children to learn, play and explore. The team’s design seamlessly integrated educational elements into the building’s architecture, providing an interactive and engaging experience for young visitors to learn and develop their curiosity about the world around them.

In addition to Hicks and Ober, students competing include:

David Espino Mendez, senior in architectural engineering, Garden City; Hasan Albasri, senior in architectural engineering, Manhattan; Carley Phelps, senior in architectural engineering, Wichita.

From out of state: Eric Hauer, senior in architectural engineering, Fairbanks, Alaska, Marygrace Starner, senior in architectural engineering, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Riley Linn, graduate student in architectural engineering, Peculiar, Missouri; and Ridgely Hatton, senior in construction science and management, Hutto, Texas.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their outstanding achievements in the AEI International Student Design Competition,” said Derek Clements, assistant professor in the department and faculty advisor to the K-State student chapter of AEI. “Their exceptional talent, dedication and innovative approach to sustainable design have been rightfully recognized, and we congratulate them on this well-deserved win.”

The team’s success in this competition is a testament to the quality of education and training provided through K-State’s architectural engineering and construction science programs and their dedication to excellence.

In addition to Clements, Professor Kimberly Kramer, Associate Professor Katie Loughmiller and Assistant Professor Andrew Sneed, all from the architectural engineering and construction science management department, serve as faculty advisors to the team.