Interdisciplinary design competition teaches MSU students challenges, rewards of collaboration
Contact: Christie McNeal
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 redesign project for 幺力视频鈥檚 Lois Dowdle Cobb Museum of Archaeology in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures gave students in the College of Architecture, Art and Design a chance to hone their collaborative skills as part of a team effort.
Brasfield and Gorrie General Contractors, one of the nation鈥檚 largest privately held construction firms based in Birmingham, Alabama, has sponsored the annual Brasfield and Gorrie Student Design Competition at MSU for the past eight years.
Since the start of the fall semester, 94 architecture, art, building construction science and interior design seniors have been working in teams to develop proposals for the redesign of the Cobb Museum, researching and determining how exhibits should be reorganized and considering such factors as space and circulation.
鈥淭his competition provides our students with a real-world experience of high-pressure and high-stakes collaborative work,鈥 said Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design Angi Elsea Bourgeois. 鈥淏y learning the rewards and challenges of true collaboration, they will be better positioned to transition seamlessly into today鈥檚 job market, which requires these skills more than ever before.鈥
Students worked together in all disciplines to create a cohesive design that is constructible and considers aspects of Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) and a WELL Building Certification. Other design requirements were to add a gift shop and direct attention to the museum鈥攍ocated in the basement鈥攆rom the front of the building.
The top five teams then presented their聽final work to Cobb Museum faculty and staff, as well as Brasfield and Gorrie representatives, who recognized the top three teams with a monetary prize.
The first-place group credited its success to good communication and trust among members, along with a well-thought-out plan.
鈥淓veryone was really easy to talk to,鈥 said Mary Moore, the group鈥檚 sole graphic designer.
鈥淲e came up with a concept on day one, which really helped us to all stay on the same page,鈥 added team member Sydney White.
Brasfield and Gorrie project manager Rivers Price said, 鈥淵ou could tell the team had great chemistry, and they knocked it out of the park.鈥
Honorees for superior design included, by hometown:
FIRST PLACE
BRANDON鈥擲ydney A. White, interior design
GRENADA鈥擩ohn Douglas 鈥淛.D.鈥 Staten, building construction science
GULFPORT鈥擧eather L. Gillich, architecture
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama鈥擲helby C. Jaco, architecture, and Tyler R. Letson, building construction science
JACKSON鈥擩ordan X. Smith, architecture
LAUREL鈥擥aybrail 鈥淕abby鈥 Jones, interior design
MADISON鈥擟layton 鈥淐lay鈥 Crossman, building construction science
PONCHATOULA, Louisiana鈥擮livia B. Duhe, interior design
RIDGELAND鈥擬ary E. Moore, art/graphic design
SECOND PLACE
BALDWYN鈥擱eagan B. Richey, building construction science
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama鈥擥rant R, Hyche, building construction science
HOLLY SPRINGS鈥擪irkland C. Webber, architecture
HOUSTON鈥擬cCarley K. Hood, interior design
JACKSON鈥擟harles M. Bowman, building construction science
JACKSON, Tennessee鈥擲amantha K. Sullivan, interior design
MCCOMB鈥擬argaret C. 鈥淢aggie鈥 Clark, senior interior design
STARKVILLE鈥擠aniel H. Ruff, architecture
TERRY鈥擩asmine J. Dennis, architecture
TUPELO鈥擪atherine Huang, art/graphic design
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama鈥擬eredith A. Hutto, architecture
THIRD PLACE
BLUE MOUNTAIN鈥擜bigail 鈥淎bby鈥 Jackson, architecture
BLUE SPRINGS鈥擝lake Farrar, architecture
BRANDON鈥擝ailey E. Cummins, interior design
CANTONMENT, Florida鈥擫uke A. Nunley, building construction science
CLARKSDALE鈥擳aylor E. Knight, art/graphic design
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama鈥擭icholas R. James, building construction science
MABEN鈥擪aitlin W. Huguley, interior design
NORTHPORT, Alabama鈥擨saiah Brooking, building construction science
STARKVILLE鈥擩on M. Russell, building construction science, and Robert A. Scott, architecture
WEST POINT鈥擟arlie R. Teffeteller, interior design
MSU faculty overseeing the competition included Assistant Professor of Architecture Fred Esenwein, Associate Professor of Architecture Alexis Gregory, Assistant Professor of Building Construction Science Michele Herrmann, Associate Professor of Interior Design Lyndsey Miller, Associate Professor of Art/Graphic Design Suzanne Powney, and Assistant Professor of Building Construction Science Alireza聽Shojaei.
Learn more about MSU鈥檚 College of Architecture, Art and Design and its academic programs at and on聽Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CAADatMSU.
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