PNW Students Put Their Skills to the Test at Associated Schools of Construction Competition

Purdue University Northwest Construction Management Engineering Technology students pose for a photo together during the Associated Schools of Construction Region Three competition. Among the students’ accomplishments was a second-place finish in the Heavy Civil Competition.

Students from Purdue University Northwest’s Construction Management Engineering Technology program made an impressive showing at the 2025 Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 3 Competition.

The event brings together top construction management programs from across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario.

This year marked a historic moment for PNW as the university sent its first-ever all-freshman team to compete in the Commercial Estimating Competition, sponsored by Walsh Construction. Tasked with developing a comprehensive bid proposal for a large-scale commercial facility, the students demonstrated exceptional professionalism, technical skill and composure under pressure. This experience provided valuable exposure to the real-world estimating process and prepared the students for future competitions.

PNW’s Heavy Civil Team also delivered an outstanding performance, earning second place in the Heavy Civil Competition. Participating teams focused on an exercise involving the $10 million Jackson Park Mobility Improvements project, sponsored by FH Paschen. Over the course of 14 hours, PNW’s five-person team produced a detailed 100-page proposal that included safety, quality assurance, logistics, scheduling and cost-estimating plans.

This achievement marks the first time in PNW history that a team has placed at the ASC Regional Competition, finishing ahead of programs such as Purdue University West Lafayette, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Michigan Technological University and Ferris State University.

The ASC Region 3 Competition provides a powerful real-world learning experience, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, collaborate under pressure and engage directly with industry professionals. Our continued involvement in ASC strengthens our program and highlights the remarkable talent of our students.

Afshin Zahraee, Associate Professor, Construction Management and Engineering Technology

“Participating in collegiate competitions against numerous schools was extremely eye-opening,” said Clayton Barma, president of PNW’s Construction Club. “The tasks we were given mimicked real-world construction challenges and pushed us to apply our classroom knowledge in a professional environment. Regardless of placement, the experience and industry connections we gained were invaluable.”

Professor Afshin Zahraee, Department Chair of Construction Science and Organizational Leadership, praised both teams:

“I couldn’t be prouder of our students and how they represented Purdue University Northwest,” he said. “The ASC Region 3 Competition provides a powerful real-world learning experience, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, collaborate under pressure and engage directly with industry professionals. Our continued involvement in ASC strengthens our program and highlights the remarkable talent of our students.”