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This year’s 17th Annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Bidding Competition included three teams from the construction management technology and the civil and environmental engineering programs at the University of Maine. The competition was held in Fairfield, N.J. this past November, with 17 different schools represented by teams of 18 students.
There were three events at the competition: Heavy Civil, Construction Build and Design Build. Each team of six students was given a project that was designed by a sponsoring contractor. Each team is presented with plans and background information to begin the project with 18 hours to work on it.
Preparing a presentation for the sponsoring contractor, the teams are judged on specific criteria set by the contractor, including the presentation of their project and their ability to answer questions.
Two of UMaine’s teams, Heavy Civil and Design Build, placed second in their events. Heavy Civil was instructed to build a bascule structure of an active bridge in Maryland. Design Build was asked to prepare the renovation of a laboratory facility to a modular office and auditorium space.
“I feel that it was an excellent opportunity to be able to perform in a real-world environment,” Heavy Civil team member Brayden Sheive said. “Gaining leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. The competition gave us the opportunity to speak with highly motivated, multi-million dollar construction companies, an excellent resume builder,” Sheive said.
Engineering professor Philip Dunn, Jr. of the University of Maine advised the three teams.
“UMaine’s three teams all did extremely well,” Dunn said. “We competed against 17 other teams from colleges all along the East Coast,” Dunn said.
“Our students competed professionally. Individuals came together as effective teams. I think that we showed the quality of UMaine’s training, perseverance and ability to think and act quickly. I am proud of every team member and thrilled about their effort,” he added.
The grand prize was $2,000, split between the team members. A paid trip to the national competition in Texas was awarded to a team from Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Members of the three teams were equally enthusiastic about the outcome of the competition. Ryan Levesque of the Heavy Civil team is looking forward to the next competition.
“Everyone had a blast, and we are only losing one member for next year’s competition, so hopefully we can win it and go to nationals,” Levesque said.
Dunn and the student team members are thankful to the various local organizations that gave their time and funding for the UMaine team to be able to compete.
“It is the support of the construction industry that makes this such a successful event,” Dunn said.
