A student team from Washington State University earned a top honor at the recent Associated Schools of Construction student competition, the largest construction management competition in the United States.
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Held in Reno, Nevada, the annual event drew more than 1,860 students from 56 universities across 20 states. Participants were tasked with solving complex construction challenges in less than 24 hours, presenting detailed proposals and defending their work in a business-style question-and-answer session before industry judges.
A WSU team, coached by Professor Darhl Edwards and sponsored by Holland Construction, secured third place in the design-build category, which included 20 teams from California, Oregon and Washington.
The design-build division was sponsored by Swinerton Incorporated and required students to develop a schematic design, cost estimate, construction schedule and management evaluation for a real-world project scenario. Teams also prepared a written proposal demonstrating technical and professional communication skills.
The interdisciplinary WSU team included Cooper Irinaga, Pascal Jacklin, Aundine Janke, Matthew Johnson, Adrian Klinkenberg and Rose Maurer, with alternates Jesus Estrada and Ian Ladd.
In addition to the design-build award, WSU teams delivered strong performances in heavy civil, virtual design and construction, and commercial categories — underscoring the depth of the university’s construction programs.
“The competition highlights the collaboration between design and construction, challenging students to develop real-world solutions” said Darhl Edwards, assistant professor in the School of Design and Construction and the design-build team’s faculty coach and advisor. “You can see their growth that ultimately makes them stronger and better prepared for future success in their chosen industry. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all the participants.”
The ASC competition is widely regarded as a proving ground for future industry leaders. Students must integrate estimating, scheduling, risk management and presentation skills under tight deadlines — mirroring the pressures faced by construction firms bidding competitive projects.
Several major contractors supported WSU’s preparation efforts, including Exxel Pacific, Howard S. Wright, Mortenson, Goodfellow Bros., Atkinson Construction, Skanska, Hoffman Construction, Absher Construction and Holland Construction. These partners provided financial backing, workshops and practice problem scenarios ahead of the competition.
Such collaboration gives students exposure to current industry standards, emerging technologies and evolving delivery methods such as integrated project delivery and design-build procurement.
“We are extremely thankful for the fantastic industry support that we have here at WSU,” said Jason Peschel, professor and director of the School of Design and Construction. “Our students are fortunate to get such amazing mentorship in preparation for the competition. Through the ASC student competition, they gain invaluable skills and experiences that they will bring to the classroom and their careers.”
Construction management competitions like ASC serve as talent pipelines for employers seeking graduates with hands-on problem-solving experience. Students gain practice presenting to executives, responding to rapid design changes and collaborating across disciplines — skills increasingly critical as projects grow more complex.
WSU’s design-build team also reflected the university’s interdisciplinary focus. While most participants study construction management, architecture and public relations/construction management minors contributed to the design-build effort, and civil and construction engineering students competed in heavy civil.
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Faculty say that exposure to collaborative project delivery methods helps students understand how architects, engineers and contractors coordinate to deliver projects efficiently and sustainably.
By earning a podium finish in a highly competitive field, the WSU team not only showcased technical excellence but also strengthened the university’s reputation within the national construction education community.
As infrastructure investment and private development expand nationwide, universities like Washington State University are positioning graduates to step directly into leadership roles across commercial, civil and industrial construction sectors.
Originally reported by Communications staff, Washington State University in WSU Insider.
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