Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

The Iowa State University student chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) hit the ground running to start the new academic year. According to the chapter’s president Brian Harry, a senior in construction engineering, the club has planned one the busiest years in its history. The year began in August with the first ever CCEE department ClubFest.

DBIA proposed the ClubFest last spring. The event, which coincided with the dedication ceremony for the newly renovated Kiewit Student Study Center and Highway Design Classroom, and the CCEE department’s welcome back barbecue, allowed CCEE student organizations to reach out to incoming students and welcome back current students.

Throughout the fall semester, the group hosted and participated in several other special events, including the first annual DBIA tailgate at the University of Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State football game, and a presentation by Walker Lee Evey, president of the national DBIA, on the rapid reconstruction of the Pentagon after the September 11 terrorist attacks. In early October, the group traveled to Minneapolis for a day trip filled with jobsite visits and an office visit to Ryan Companies. The group also traveled to Dallas, Texas, to attend the Design-Build Expo 2007, the national convention for student DBIA student chapters. Last year, the Iowa State chapter took pride in sending more students to the convention than any other school.

Additionally, DBIA continues to host monthly meetings where professional design-builders travel from across the country to speak to Iowa State’s DBIA members. The student chapter also is involved heavily with the DBIA’s professional chapter in Iowa. The students attend the bimonthly breakfast meetings, as well as work with the chapter’s steering committee in sharing special events and presentations. Other social activities and volunteer work also are planned for the student chapter. Visit www.stuorg.iastate.edu/dbia for more information.