Lemont High School Students to Compete in National 'Mock Firm' Competition

A team of students from Lemont High School is in the final stages of preparing for what has become an annual appearance for the school in one of the nation’s top architectural design contests.

Seniors Brian Dirst, Szymon Krzeptowski-Mucha, Scott Matulik, Bryan Shamasko, Ray Stieber and Justin Stanwyck will represent the school in the National High School Skyscraper Challenge division at the 2013 Mock Firms
Architectural Competition, which will be contested at Chicago’s Congress Plaza Hotel on Thursday and Friday. The competition is sponsored by Chicago Architecture Today.

In its fifth year, the Mock Firms competition helps both high school and college students simulate architectural design firms. This year’s goal is for “firms” to conceive, coordinate, construct and commercialize a comprehensive health care "supertall" building in downtown Chicago that serves many segments of the medical community.

This year’s theme is “Rediscover the Future,” and entrants are challenged to design a facility that will include hospital services, outpatient services, research facilities, health care provider offices, rehabilitation facilities, senior residences, and a medical school. Industry-specific retail spaces such as pharmacies and health food markets are to be included, and parking is expected to be creatively housed within the structure.

Architectural designs are expected to be contemporary in style and materials, look toward the future in geometry and technology, utilize environmental and sustainable principles and procedures, and incorporate water within the design.

Lemont’s students will be among teams from across the country that will descend upon Chicago to present their concepts to a panel of industry professionals. Each firm will present its concept to the panel, with the ultimate goal of becoming the 2013 Most Outstanding Mock Firm. Awards also will be given in several other categories, including “Top Firm Organization,” “Top Design Firm,” “Top Marketing Firm,” “Top Construction Firm,” “Top Engineer Firm” and, for states with multiple entries, “Top State Firm.”

For several months, Lemont High School’s entry, “5s Designs,” has assembled its firm and completed all of the work required to present its plan to the panel at the national competition. That presentation includes CAD drawings, a scale model, a YouTube video, and an oral presentation.

The building developed by 5s Designs—nicknamed “The Sail” due to its shape and the method by which it deflects Chicago’s strong winds—would be 609.9 meters (2,013 feet) tall, which would make it the second-tallest building in the world behind the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (808 meters/2,650 feet). “The Sail” would be nearly 100 meters taller than the Willis Tower, easily making it the tallest building in Chicago.

“The Sail” would sit at Wolf Point, the location where Chicago’s Near North Side, Loop and Near West Side communities meet on the Chicago River. The design includes two towers of varying heights, which are connected at many floors via bridges. The structure includes areas for inpatient care, a multi-level emergency room, pharmacies, a medical school, commercial space, a sky deck, and residential for students, doctors and senior citizens.

“The Sail” would become the tallest building in the United States to receive LEED gold certification. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) incorporates a number of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods.

Projects will be judged by architects, professors, graduate students, media and members of the international Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Evaluations will be based on precision, practicality, participation and presentation. All of the participating students are enrolled in teacher Scott Duensing’s Advanced CAD III Honors course.

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