Mississippi State students compete in industry-sponsored interdisciplinary student design project
Contact: Christie McNeal
STARKVILLE, Miss.âStudents from each major in Âé¶čPornâs College of Architecture, Art and Design launched the fall semester with an interdisciplinary student design competition.

Seniors majoring in architecture, art, building construction science and interior design have been competing in the Brasfield & Gorrie Student Design Competition for top honors, including a cash prize, since its inception in 2011. The competition sponsor, , is one of the nationâs largest privately held construction firms based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Simulating real-world design processes, the goal of the competition is to engage students in collaborative design and construction solutions to help them overcome preconceived ideas of the roles traditionally assumed by the various disciplines in the college.Â
This year, 10 collaborative teamsâeach comprised of nine to 10 studentsâwere tasked with developing an overall design and construction plan for a satellite wellness center on the south side of campus. Students had to work together to develop a cohesive, constructible design that included branding as well as aspects of Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignâLEEDâin line with the universityâs initiatives.
Hallie Gipson, an interior design student from Ridgeland, said the biggest challenge her team faced was the time constraint.
âWe really had to hone in on what was required while also incorporating aspects that went above and beyond the client's intent,â she said.
Gipson said working with different majors as a team was very insightful.
âSeeing the overlap between all of our disciplines was equally exciting and eye-opening,â she said. âEach team member brought so much to the table, and I learned something new from all of them.â
Gipson said the competition also is helping prepare her for her future career.
âNot only did I learn about how each discipline contributes to the design process, but I was able to sharpen my communication and organizational skills,â she said. âThis project is great exposure to whatâs to come, and Iâm so thankful that it is a part of our curriculum.âÂ
Honorees included, by hometown and major:

FIRST PLACE â Team 2, Project âAMPâ
COLUMBUSâLilian Barlow, interior design
GREENWOODâJeremiah Richards, architecture
HATTIESBURGâKatherine Nause, art
LUCEDALEâAnna Leigh OâBrien, interior design
MADISONâWilliam Hunter, building construction science
MOBILE, AlabamaâAbigail Boles, interior design
NOXAPATERâNona Wilkes, interior design
OLIVE BRANCHâCharles Bearden, building construction science
RIVERSIDE, IllinoisâTess Bruno, architecture
TUSCALOOSA, AlabamaâCooper Smith, building construction science

SECOND PLACE â Team 7, Project âVESLâ
ARLINGTON, TennesseeâVictoria Henderson, architecture
BATESVILLEâAllyssa Swindle, interior design
CLINTONâEmily Hammons, architecture
COLUMBUSâLeighann Pounders, interior design
FENTON, MissouriâJordan Beseda, interior design
HATTIESBURGâAlexander West, building construction science
JACKSONâPaige Wigant, art
LOUINâChristopher McNeil, building construction science
MCGREGOR, TexasâTanner Fromm, interior design
SPRINGFIELD, MissouriâBrayden Emmert, building construction science

THIRD PLACE â Team 9, Project âAPEXâ
FLORAâWilliam Pace, building construction science
MARIETTA, GeorgiaâJames Harper, architecture
MOUNT OLIVEâSabra Hubbard, interior design
NESBITâRaul Zaragoza, building construction science
RIDGELANDâHallie Gipson, interior design
SALTILLOâLily Cate King, interior design
STARKVILLEâAda Fulgham, architecture
TUPELOâOlivia Dickey, art
TUSCALOOSA, AlabamaâElizabeth Garcia, building construction science

HONORABLE MENTION â Team 1, Project âNEXUSâ
BARTLETT, TennesseeâAaron Shankle, building construction science
BILOXIâDaniel Hardy, art
BOGUE CHITTOâJonathan Allbritton, building construction science
COLUMBUSâGrayson Jones, interior design
GREENVILLEâElvis Scott, architecture
JACKSON, TennesseeâChloe Burnette, interior design
OXFORDâAnna Barnes, architecture
MADISONâAden Wright, interior design
RICHARDSON, TexasâBen Hayes, building construction science
Learn more about Âé¶čPornâs College of Architecture, Art and Design and its academic programs at  and on Facebook and Instagram @CAADatÂé¶čPorn.
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