Congratulations to the ACE Mentor Program of Illinois, Chicago Team 11 for winning third place at the 20th Anniversary CIRT National Design + Construction Competition!

The ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentorship program is an opportunity for high school students to learn about career opportunities in the construction industry by working on a comprehensive design that they then have the option of submitting as a competition entry. This year, three LBBA team members were a part of ACE, with Katie Taylor serving as the team lead. 

It was wonderful hosting the ACE students at our office for a few weeks, where they learned what it means to be an “architect” and a little about how to become one, designed hats based on famous buildings, and started planning their final project, "Crossroads Cultural Center." The challenge was to design an inclusive, community-centered space that celebrates identity, history, and engagement by blending architecture with social impact.

For the project, they designed a power and transit museum located at the abandoned Union Station Power House. Mentors from LBBA, Perkins Eastman, Ryan Companies, and Burns & McDonnell helped the students navigate the design process, engineering requirements to achieve net zero, as well as the construction schedule and project budget. The team was one of nine finalists to be selected to present in Washington D.C., where they ultimately won third!

Download the Final Presentation Below: