Construction science and management students dominate at three national competitions

Three teams from Clemson’s Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development have claimed top-four finishes in construction science and management competitions in 2025. One of them is now a repeat champion.

For the second year in a row, Clemson’s team coached by Assistant Professor Vivek Sharma has claimed first place in the Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) annual Construction Science and Management Competition.

Also, a team of students coached by Associate Professor and Interim Chair Dhaval Gajjar claimed third place in the Roofing Alliance Student Competition, and a team coached by Associate Professor Jason Lucas took fourth place in the National Association of Home Builders Custom Home Competition.

Out of the 22 students who composed the three teams, only one—Samuel Davis—was a member of more than one team, demonstrating the depth of talent in Clemson’s construction science and management program.

Our students and faculty perform at the highest level in everything they take on, and they are proof of what we hear constantly from our industry partners: Clemson students set the standard for excellence. I am beyond proud of the way these Tigers have represented Clemson on a national stage.

Ece Erdogmus, Dean, College of Architecture, Art and Construction

Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Management Competition

Clemson’s win at the ABC Construction Management competition is not only their second championship in a row but also the third in five years. Core team members Will Dapp, Alexa DeCarlo, Anderson Plyler and Charlie Rohaley presented the project with support from teammates Thomas Cartledge, Jack Smith, Austin Hart, Samuel Davis, Benjamin Reynolds and Brody Tyree.

“We felt overwhelming pride and excitement from the confirmation that our success was more than just a one-off,” Dapp said.

According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the competition required each team to find management solutions to the same real-world construction project. This year’s competition project centered on the MiraCosta College Health & Wellness Hub at MiraCosta College’s campus in Oceanside, California. The project scope includes a full site development on the eastern side of the campus.

Clemson won out over teams from 34 universities.

Rohaley, a graduating senior, noted how the competition has helped him develop leadership skills as he begins his career.

“It has challenged me to think critically, manage complex projects under pressure, and collaborate effectively with a team, essential skills for success in the construction industry,” Rohaley added. “This experience has also reinforced the critical importance of teamwork in the construction industry.”

“All of the students are ‘ALL IN’ and that’s the key to their success,” Sharma said. “As a coach, I am really proud of each one of them. They deserve all the love and support we can muster.”

Roofing Alliance Student Competition

Associate Professor Dhaval Gajjar’s students placed third in the Roofing Alliance Student Competition, continuing a five-year streak that includes two championships and three top-three finishes. This year’s team members were Will Hamlin, Alyssa Owens, Samuel Davis, and Tyler Brothers.

“The student competition helps our students experience real-world scenarios by putting together a complete bid package and a presentation in front of the industry judges and professionals for the assigned project,” Gajjar noted.

Clemson’s project for this year’s competition centered on a proposed Embassy Suites hotel near the San Antonio Airport.

National Association of Home Builders Custom Home Competition

Clemson’s team in the NAHB Custom Home Competition claimed fourth place out of 32 teams, a new high in their third year of participation.

“Participating in this, or any of the other national competitions, is a fantastic learning experience for the students and makes them more marketable to companies when they graduate and look for full-time employment,” Associate Professor Jason Lucas said.

 The competition project requires students to spend a semester developing a proposal for a custom home build that includes market analysis, financial analysis, design, construction management planning and more. Clemson’s project was the “Poudre River Retreat, Waterfront Lot 10,” a proposed 5,900-square-foot home in The Cache, a luxury housing community in northeastern Colorado.

Students presented their work to a panel of judges at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.

“Companies who sponsor the competition are working on the real project and have gone through a similar exercise of their own in order to get it off the ground,” Lucas explained. “So the judges from that company are very knowledgeable and familiar with what the students are presenting.”

This year’s team was composed of Matthew Fischer, Thomas Kurtz, Vivian Nguyen, Jack Feffer, Will Henderson, Solomon Stullengarger, Thomas Dantzler, Oscar Hernandez and Hayden Lee.