ABC Names the Winner of the 2024 Construction Management Competition

WASHINGTON, DC — Associated Builders and Contractors has announced the winners of its annual Construction Management Competition, which were honored at ABC Convention 2024 in Orlando, Florida, March 13-15. A total of 25 teams of undergraduate students from colleges and universities nationwide competed this year, and Clemson University, ABC Carolinas chapter, was named the overall winner of the 2024 competition, with the highest cumulative points in the five competition categories.

Clemson University placed in the top three in four categories, including estimating, project management, quality control and overall. California State University, Fresno earned second place overall and also placed in project management and safety. Colorado State University placed third overall and also placed first in the safety and quality control subcategories. Additionally, Pennsylvania College of Technology, ABC Keystone chapter, was named the 2023 Student Chapter of the Year.

Future Industry Leaders

“Colleges and universities are an important entry point into the construction industry, and this collegiate competition gives future industry leaders valuable, resume-building experiences,” said 2024 National Chair of the ABC Board of Directors Buddy Henley, president, Henley Construction Co. Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland. “The skills they learned during this process are helping them achieve their construction career dreams. I look forward to seeing the contributions these young leaders will make in the industry throughout their careers.”

The four-person teams put their construction project leadership skills to the test by completing the same real-life construction management project. This year’s project focused on renovation work and new construction at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, a more than 60-year-old, internationally known campus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

The upgrades incorporated in this RFP included new competition, diving and instruction pools; renovation to existing grandstands, restrooms, concessions and ticket offices; and a new, iconic 27-meter-high dive tower. This structure will be the tallest dive tower in the Western Hemisphere and features an iconic sculptural form that has nine platform levels.

The project scope includes existing building and pool demolition, a new building, a pool and tower construction as well as parking and site lot improvements for a fully designed site renovation and upgrade.

Participants

The 25 teams that participated in ABC’s 2024 Construction Management Competition are:

1. Appalachian State University, ABC Carolinas chapter
2. Auburn University, ABC Alabama chapter
3. Ball State University, ABC Indiana/Kentucky chapter
4. California State University, Fresno, ABC Northern California chapter
5. Clemson University, ABC Carolinas chapter
6. Colorado State University, ABC Rocky Mountain chapter
7. Ferris State University, ABC Western Michigan chapter
8. Florida Gulf Coast University, ABC Florida Gulf Coast chapter
9. Florida International University, ABC Florida East Coast chapter
10. Kent State University, ABC Northern Ohio chapter
11. Louisiana State University, ABC Pelican chapter
12. Michigan State University, ABC Greater Michigan chapter
13. Norfolk State University, ABC Virginia chapter
14. Pennsylvania College of Technology, ABC Keystone chapter
15. Purdue University, ABC Indiana/Kentucky chapter
16. Seminole State College, ABC Central Florida chapter
17. The University of Central Florida, ABC Central Florida chapter
18. The University of Texas at San Antonio, ABC South Texas chapter
19. University of Cincinnati, ABC Ohio Valley chapter
20. University of North Florida, ABC Florida First Coast chapter
21. University of Northern Iowa, ABC Iowa chapter
22. University of Southern Mississippi, ABC Mississippi chapter
23. University of Tennessee, ABC Greater Tennessee chapter
24. University of Wisconsin-Platteville, ABC Wisconsin chapter
25. University of Wisconsin-Stout, ABC Wisconsin chapter

All participants are active members of the ABC National Student Chapter Network, which connects local ABC chapters to colleges and universities with construction management programs to build the talent pipeline and mentor future leaders of the construction industry.

DEWALT is the presenting sponsor of ABC’s National Student Chapter Network. The competition is also supported by Autodesk® Construction Cloud and Gordian. A full list of the winners is available at abc.org/cmc.