Lemont Students Win National Skyscraper Challenge

For five years, Lemont High School has sent an entry to compete in one of the nation’s top architectural design contests, and while its students came back with an award from each of the first four trips, the top state-and national-level awards have been elusive.

That changed in year five, as its entry - “5s Designs” - captured six awards, including first place in the National High School Skyscraper Challenge division, at the 2013 Mock Firms Architectural Competition, which was contested at Chicago’s Congress Plaza Hotel on April 25-26. The event was sponsored by Chicago Architecture Today.

The 5s Designs team was composed of seniors Brian Dirst, Szymon Krzeptowski Mucha, Scott Matulik, Bryan Shamasko, Ray Stieber and Justin Stanwyck.

The squad not only won first place in the National High School Skyscraper Challenge—which attracted entries from North Carolina to Oregon— but also was the National Mock Firms Runner-Up to “Studio 2102,” an entry from Grand Haven (Mich.) High School that won the contest’s Regional Home Design division. 5s Designs also was named the Mock Firms Midwest Regional Champion (including both the Skyscraper and Regional Home Design division), and captured “Top State Firm,” “Top Construction Firm” and “Top Architecture Firm” honors.

In its fifth year, the Mock Firms competition helps both high school and college students simulate architectural design firms. This year’s goal for “firms” was 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 was “Rediscover the Future,” and entrants were challenged to design a facility that would 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 were to be included, and parking was expected to be creatively housed within the structure. Architectural designs were 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.

5s Designs was among teams from across the country that descended upon Chicago to present their concepts to a panel of industry professionals. For several months, Lemont High School’s entry assembled its "firm" and completed all of the work required to present its plan to the panel at the national competition. That presentation included CAD drawings, a scale model, a You Tube 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 were judged by architects, professors, graduate students, media and members of the international Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Evaluations were 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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