The Penn State student chapter of the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) took home first place in the annual Student Chapters Residential Construction Management Competition in Las Vegas. The competition pits students from around the country against one other to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real world construction management project.

The competition, held Jan. 20-22, was  part of the NAHB International Builders Show. Penn State’s chapter submitted a plan for a 40.7 acre site in Lebanon, Tennessee that featured 692 units, including four types of homes and nine floor plans. The site, named Hamilton Centre, was consciously designed by the team as a Transit Oriented Development, allowing marketing to a large variety of buyers due to its mixed product types.

Members of the team included seniors Chris Guyan, Naci Al, Stephanie Archer, Alec Galanti, and Jillian Grzywacz, fourth-year students Paige Donnell and Victoria Riedinger, and sophomore Emma Dickson. The students come from a variety of majors, including civil and architectural engineering, finance, and risk management.

The team was advised not only by Penn State civil engineering instructor Tim Skibinski, but also Pennsylvania Housing Research Center staff members Katie Blansett, Bryan Heitzmann, Chris Hine, and Brian Wolfgang.

Though this was Penn State’s ninth year in the competition, it has never placed higher than sixth. The team will bring a traveling trophy back to University Park, as well as a check for $1,000 and digital scales from Calculated Industries.

The National Home Builders Association, a trade association, was formed in 1942 and promotes policies that make housing a priority in the United States.