Cornerstone Design students propose infrastructure solutions
An asphalt mix designed to better weather freeze-thaw cycles took first place in the Spring 2018 Cornerstone Design Final Competition on May 2. A total of 24 student teams from Intro to Design (EPIC 151) exhibited their infrastructure solutions at the final competition, representing the top team from each class section. Mines Infrastructure Design's asphalt mix won first place and $1,000 in the Best Design Process category. Unlike other mixes that are ineffective at buffering internal temperature cycles, leading to structural damage and hazardous driving conditions, MID's mix incorporates phase change materials to improve road strength and buffering from freeze-thaw cycles. Team members were Abby Bernard, Sydney Lynch, Ben Friedel and Karsten Anderson. Second place and $500 went to A Team Gold for their Denver interchange redesign. Team members were Whitney Vizgaudis, Madeline Perun, Malaya Morrow and Cierra Gladfelter. The award for Most Potentially Viable and $350 went to The Avengers for their plan increase longevity and retroreflectivity of epoxy lane lines. Team members were Allyson Cameron, Lucas Kroh, Jennifer Kuchta, Clinton Hemphill and Jonas Agudo. Required for all undergraduates, EPIC 151 is a semester-long design course whose centerpiece is an open-ended design problem that students must solve as part of a team. This semester, the student teams were challenged to improve upon or replace current infrastructure in a sustainable, aesthetic, user-friendly way. That could include civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, computer science, chemical, geological, mining and most other technical solution spaces. Solutions were required to fulfill a need felt by a significant number of people, while also making a meaningful impact on the environment and communities.
Emilie Rusch, Public Information Specialist, Communications and Marketing | 303-273-3361 | erusch@mines.edu
Mark Ramirez, Managing Editor, Communications and Marketing | 303-273-3088 | ramirez@mines.edu