OSU teams earn first-ever clean sweep at construction competition

Friday, February 18, 2011

Three teams of Construction Management Technology students took home three first place trophies and made Oklahoma State University the first school to ever sweep all categories in the 16-year history of the Associated Schools of Construction Region V Student Competitions held last week in Dallas.

The teams, from OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, competed against teams from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas in the annual contest, which includes categories for commercial building, design building, and heavy civil competition. Teams in each category face a 16-hour deadline to estimate and schedule (and sometimes design) a project and produce a proposal packet to present to the judges.

“The students put in a lot of time and effort to prepare a proposal and make a presentation in a competitive process that is very similar to what actual contractors do to acquire construction work,” said Heather Yates, associate professor, Construction Management Technology and coach for the commercial building team.

The OSU Commercial Building team competed against 10 other teams to bring home first place by providing details for an $11 million performing arts theater addition. OSU placed first with Texas A&M and University of Oklahoma placing second and third. Commercial Building Team members include Casey Montgomery, Duncan; Brody Hensley, Piedmont; Luke Yinger, Edmond; Chris Nipper, Earlsboro; Jordan Northcutt, Lexington; and Cory Riddle, Hennessey; with Cameron Leach, Denton, Texas, and Caleb Manning, Perry, serving as alternates. Riddle also received a 3rd place award for best speaker. J.E. Dunn Construction sponsored the Commercial Building Competition.

The OSU Design-Build Team beat five other teams to win first in their division by offering a plan and a design for a $7 million elementary school. OSU placed first with Texas Tech and University of Oklahoma placing second and third. Design/Build Team members include Matt Eccleston, Tulsa; and Ben Stukenborg, Claremore, as architects, along with Jason Fletcher, Clinton; Ky Park, Skiatook; Ryan Smith, Colbert; and Jared Sulak of Newcastle. Jared Bell, Nowata, and Cort Winters, Oklahoma City, were alternates, and Mark Pruitt, associate professor, Construction Management Techonolgy, was team coach. Stukenborg received a first place best speaker award. Speed Fab-Crete Design Build General Contractor sponsored the Design Build Competition.

The OSU Heavy Civil team won first place in a field of eight teams by providing an estimate for a $100 million wharf at the Port of Houston. OSU placed first with University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and University of Oklahoma placing second and third. Team members include Clark Bernal, Austin, Texas; Jarred Britton, Amarillo, Texas; Blake Self, Bartlesville; Allison Sprague, Edmond; Todd Steelman, Fayetteville, Ark.; and Curtis Whalen, Broken Arrow. Anastasia Boyd of Tulsa was an alternate, and Miles Hunter, assistant professor, Construction Management Technology, served as team coach. McCarthy sponsored the Heavy Civil Competition.