LTU Students Earn Multiple Top Honors at National AEI Student Design Competition

Lawrence Technological University students earned multiple top honors at the 2026 AEI Student Design Competition, a premier national event held March 19 in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the AEI Conference.

Hosted by the Architectural Engineering Institute, the annual competition challenges students to complete a comprehensive engineering design for a complex building project. This year’s challenge focused on a student success center on the campus of Texas A&M University, requiring integrated solutions across multiple engineering disciplines.

Competing against top programs from across the country, students from LTU’s Architectural Engineering program demonstrated national-level excellence in structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction systems, as well as overall building integration.

“The AEI Student Design Competition is one of the most demanding and respected experiences in architectural engineering education,” said Keith J. Kowalkowski, PhD, PE, SE, associate professor and assistant chair of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at LTU. “Our students’ performance reflects not only their technical ability, but their capacity to collaborate, innovate, and deliver under real-world constraints.”

The LTU team earned the following national honors:

• First Place, Structural Engineering
• Second Place, Electrical Systems
• Second Place, Mechanical Systems
• Second Place, Construction Systems
• Finalist, Building Integration

The competition requires students to develop a fully integrated building systems design, mirroring professional practice and requiring coordination across disciplines.

“What sets this team apart is their ability to think holistically,” Kowalkowski said. “They approached the project the way leading firms do, balancing performance, constructability, and user experience while working as a cohesive unit.”

Awards were announced following the AEI Conference.

“This level of national recognition is a testament to the strength of LTU’s architectural engineering program and the dedication of our students,” Kowalkowski said. “They have set a high standard and represented the university with distinction.”

The recognition reinforces LTU’s theory and practice motto and leadership in preparing engineers to solve complex, multidisciplinary challenges.