UVA’s teams triumphed at the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 2 competition, one of the Southeast’s most prestigious construction contests. Teams from top universities compete across categories like commercial, preconstruction, heavy civil, concrete, and design-build, with students developing proposals, estimating costs, scheduling, and presenting solutions to industry experts.

Building on a strong performance in 2023, where they secured second place in preconstruction, UVA’s Cavalier Construction teams entered two groups this year — one in the commercial category and another in preconstruction.

The teams, made up of nine civil engineering, two architecture, and one mechanical and aerospace engineering undergraduate students, spent the fall semester preparing with workshops and training sessions from major construction firms, including Whiting Turner, Gilbane, Barton Malow, and more.

The competition culminated on November 15, with a 12-hour effort to produce refined construction proposals. The teams then traveled to Greenville, South Carolina, for the final presentations and competition against top regional schools such as Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech.

And the results were stellar:

1st Place: Commercial Team

‍Kenneth H. Moffet (MAE), Finn Kelleher (CEE), Anne Mariella Villena (CEE), Emma Weinstein (CEE), Emma Turner (ARH), and Griffin Harrison (CEE). This was UVA’s first time competing in the commercial category, and they secured a victory!

2nd Place: Preconstruction Team

Casey Marraccino (CEE), Amy Privado (CEE), Stephanie Castro (CEE), Dannia Gomez (ARCH), Zubaidah Al Jumaili (CEE), and Jeremiah Castillo (CEE). For the second consecutive year, UVA’s preconstruction team placed second, marking another impressive achievement for the program.

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The success was made possible by the leadership of Assistant Professor Diana Franco Duran, who coordinated UVA’s participation in the ASC competition. “I make sure we have a team participating and that the consortium is actively involved in the training process,” said Franco Duran. “However, this has truly been a collaborative effort — I couldn’t have achieved this without the support of our coach, Matt O'Malley, faculty advisor, David Gutierrez, and the consortium members.”

Weekly two-hour workshops, hosted by industry consortium members, provided students with valuable insights and preparation.

While UVA does not offer a separate undergraduate degree in Construction Engineering and Management, its Civil Engineering program’s CEM concentration is a powerhouse, equipping students with the skills they need to succeed through interdisciplinary coursework, hands-on experiences, and strong industry partnerships. The outstanding competition results reflect this dedication and preparation.