Test your mettle!

By Emma Peterson.  

Get ready for the 2024 Metal Building Student Design Competition. 

For over 60 years, the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) has served as a voice and advocate for the metal building systems industry by leading in research, code establishment and education. A metal building system is characterized by the optimization and integration of steel framing, roofing and walls. It is a highly popular choice in American commercial construction because of its energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and structural durability.  

One of the ways that the MBMA helps raise awareness and the standards of the industry is through their student design competition. This program aims to help college and university students understand the history of metal building systems, how to build one today and the benefits of designing with systems construction over other forms of construction. 

For the 2024 competition, MBMA has designed the following prompt:  

“Imagine that your university has issued a request for proposals for a new campus recreation center and sports complex that will serve the student population. In an effort to solicit the most innovative design solutions, they have chosen to launch a student design competition and you are invited to participate. This complex will include both indoor and outdoor facilities for a variety of sports including athletic courts, a rock-climbing wall and group exercise rooms. The competition challenges students to develop innovative designs using a metal building system to meet the fitness needs of their university.” 

There is no entry fee to participate and interested parties can apply as individuals or as teams. There are graduate and undergraduate divisions, with all participants needing to be full-time registered students. Further, all entrants are required to work under a faculty sponsor who teaches a design, technology, structure or construction class. Faculty are encouraged to incorporate this competition into their curriculum. MBMA provides additional educational resources that can be incorporated. 

Registration opens in mid-July with the submission deadline set at January 6, 2025. There are over $28,000 in awards that will be announced on February 25, 2025. 

Register for the MBMA Metal Building Student Competition! The form opens on July 15, 2024.