MSU students place fifth at the National Association of Home Builders Residential Construction Management Competition
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EmailOn Jan. 10, 2018, the MSU Construction Management Residential Competition Team took fifth place in the nation out of a highly competitive field of 34 university teams from across the U.S. at the NAHB Residential Construction Management Competition.
On Jan. 10, 2018, the Michigan State University Construction Management Residential Competition Team took fifth place in the nation out of a highly competitive field of 34 university teams from across the U.S. at the National Association of Home Builders Residential Construction Management Competition in Orlando, FL.
The team is led by George Berghorn, assistant professor of construction management and the group’s coach. Team members include seniors Melanie Goerke, Jacob Pincura, Lukas Reynolds and Lukas Sundberg; and juniors Dan Hamilton and Amanda Wakefield.
The mission of the NAHB four-year student competition is to expose students to an in-depth residential construction project from concept to closing. Using real projects, students compete with other schools as they display their problem-solving abilities and learn more about homebuilding.
This is a significant accomplishment for MSU in a high-profile competition with most university construction management programs that have a residential component participating.
This year, the competition required students to create a comprehensive land development prospectus for several parcels in Okemos, MI. The project was sponsored by Mayberry Homes of East Lansing, MI, an award-winning mid-Michigan builder and developer.
“It was an honor to participate as a sponsor for the NAHB student competition four-year program,” said Karen Schroder, co-owner of Mayberry Homes. “Bob and I had the opportunity to meet a number of extremely talented young men and women preparing to enter our industry. The creativity in the proposals presented was thought provoking and admirable.”
“I would like to acknowledge all of the participants for their hard work and preparation leading up to this completion. Special kudos to my Michigan State Spartans for placing in the top 5!,” said Schroeder.
“This is my fifth year judging the Four-Year Residential Construction Management Competition for the National Association of Homebuilders’ Student Chapters and the reason I keep coming back is because of the dedication each team exhibits,” said Tom Hyde, vice president of Miller & Smith.
“These young women and men are asked to step outside of their comfort zone. They explore a new residential community from site design through sales to the ultimate the homebuyer, including scheduling, product selection, and detailed market and financial analysis. The project culminates with an extensive written proposal submitted in advance of the competition,” he said.
“At the International Builders Show, in front of a panel of industry experts and a room full of their peers, NAHB members and recruiters from top builders, the students present and defend their proposal,” said Hyde.
While this is primarily a construction management competition, the MSU team composition reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the School of Planning, Design and Construction. One of the six primary team members was a landscape architecture student and two alternate team members came from the interior design program, something that sets the MSU team apart from its peers.
The Construction Management Program at MSU is housed in the School of Planning, Design and Construction and has 188 undergraduate students and 14 graduate students enrolled.
“Each year the teams get better and I return home excited to see the knowledge and enthusiasm that they will bring to the residential construction business,” added Hyde.
For more information about the MSU competition team, contact George Berghorn at berghorn@msu.edu. Learn more about the National Association of Homebuilders Residential Construction Management Competition, visit: NAHB Four-Year Competition.
