Student Engineers Take On Real-World Challenge

We are proud to share that our construction management students from the civil engineering and construction management program at Norwich University competed in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2026 Production Home Student Competition in Orlando, Florida, this February. The team included Attley Stevens '26, Adam Munn '26, Jameson Gilbert '26, and Jake Mackleer '26.

This year’s challenge required teams to evaluate the acquisition and development of a 93-acre site in Lilburn, Georgia, with a $10.92 million purchase price. Students created a comprehensive development proposal including market analysis, site design, lot optimization, financial modeling (including IRR), sales strategy, risk analysis, sustainability planning, and options to sell finished lots while retaining 50% for internal development. The team prepared a professional written report with an executive summary and full financial breakdown, then presented and defended their proposal before industry executives acting as firm decision-makers. Their ability to justify assumptions, calculations, and strategic decisions under pressure reflected true industry readiness.

The NAHB competition provides students with real-world development experience—bridging engineering, construction management, finance, and leadership. As their faculty mentor, Dr. Nadia Al-Aubaidy, I am incredibly proud of their professionalism and performance. I am especially proud to share that I nominated Attley Stevens for the Outstanding Student Award, which he received for exceptional leadership and contribution to the team. Experiential learning like this shapes the next generation of construction leaders.