MBMA Introduces 2021 Student Design Competition With $15,000 In Prizes

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) announces its inaugural collegiate Student Design Competition. The contest is intended to challenge undergraduate and graduate architecture students to create an innovative metal building design for a one- or two-story elementary school to house approximately 200 students. In addition to exploring design options, students are encouraged to learn more about metal buildings as a structural or construction system.

“Graduate and undergraduate participants will be full-time registered architecture students and each is required to work under the direction of a faculty sponsor through either a design, technology, structure or construction class,” said W. Lee Shoemaker, Ph.D., PE, MBMA director of research and engineering. He emphasized that no entry fee is required.

A total of $15,000 in awards will be made to students and faculty sponsors. “For student teams, the award amount for 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize will be divided and distributed equally to each member of the registered team,” Shoemaker said.

Jurors were named based upon their credentials, body of work, passion for innovation and design expertise. The 2021 jury consists of:

• Eric F. Pros, AIA, Director of Design, DS Architecture

• Terri Meyer Boake, LEED AP, Professor, School of Architecture, University of Waterloo

• Lauren Gwaltney, AIA, Senior Associate, Williams Blackstock Architects

• John Underwood, PE, Consultant, Behlen Manufacturing Company

• Robert Tiffin, National Accounts Manager, Silvercote

Registration is open from July 1 to October 1 with submissions due December 1, 2021. Winners will be announced on February 15, 2022. All submission details may be accessed at www.mbmaeducation.org and questions can be addressed to Lee Shoemaker at mbma@mbma.com.

About The Metal Building Manufacturers Association

Founded in 1956, MBMA serves manufacturers and suppliers as it works to promote the metal building systems industry. Its membership supplies high-quality buildings for use in commercial, retail, office, industrial, institutional and other end-uses. The association provides a wealth of information on its website for anyone who works with or is interested in metal building systems. It includes technical materials and design guides. For more information, visit www.mbma.com.