ROCKVILLE, Md. - A panel of judges has selected the four teams that will make oral presentations of their bid proposals at the Mechanical Contractors Association of America's (MCAA's) 2005-2006 Student Chapter Competition on March 20 in Maui, Hawaii.

Finalists are:

  • Northern California Mechanical Contractors Student Chapter at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo;

  • MCAA Student Chapter at the Milwaukee School of Engineering;

  • MCA of Indiana Student Chapter at Purdue University; and

  • Student Chapter for Mechanical/Electrical Specialty Contracting at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

    The judges selected the finalists after evaluating proposals submitted by 17 MCAA student chapters. In addition to the four finalists, teams that submitted proposals were from:

  • Greater Michigan MSCA Student Chapter at Ferris State University;

  • Illinois State University Mechanical and Electrical Contractors Association;

  • MCA of Kentucky Student Chapter at Northern Kentucky University;

  • MCAA Student Chapter at Fairleigh Dickinson University;

  • MCAA Student Chapter at Northeastern University;

  • MCAA Student Chapter at the University of Cincinnati;

  • MCAA Student Chapter at University of Wisconsin – Stout;

  • MCAA's Student Chapter at Georgia Tech;

  • Mechanical Specialty Contracting Student Chapter at Iowa State University;

  • Oregon State University Student Chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America;

  • Rocky Mountain Chapter of MCAA at Colorado State University;

  • Student Chapter of Specialty Contracting (Mechanical/Electrical) at Southern Polytechnic State University; and

  • University of Washington Mechanical Contractors Student Chapter.

    Mark Rogers (West Chester Mechanical Contractors, Chester, Pa.), Ken Durr (Durr Mechanical Construction Inc., New York), and Matt Hahr (John J. Kirlin Inc., Rockville, Md.) served as the first-round judges for this year's competition.

    A different panel of judges will evaluate the oral presentations. Each finalist team will have 20 minutes to convince the judges that they are the best qualified to perform the proposed work on the project - 15 minutes for a formal oral presentation, and 5 minutes of answering the judges' questions. Each team's standing will be determined solely on the basis of their performance on the oral competition.

    The project is the mechanical systems renovation of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. John J. Kirlin Inc. performed the work in 2002, including replacement of air handlers and other equipment, piping and duct, controls and fixtures, as well as management of the installation to minimize disruption of the art gallery's operations. An addendum was issued for an allowance for a new sprinkler system. Each team received two CDs, one with more than 400 pages of background information, specifications, and requirements, and the other containing the project's CAD drawings. None of the information was altered for the competition.

    As in past years, the prizes are as follows: $5,000 to the first place team; $2,500 to the second place team; and $1,000 to each of the other finalists. All finalists will also receive a trophy commemorating their achievement.

    Publication date: 02/06/2006