Student teams representing the construction management program, College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at Chico State University, brought home two first places, a second and a third from the Associated Schools of Construction annual competition in Reno earlier this month.

They bested 11 other Western universities in the competition. Chico's teams took home trophies in each of the four divisions of the competition, placing first in commercial; first in residential; second in heavy/civil; and third in design/build.

Chico State teams collectively outscored all other institutions, including USC, University of Washington, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Oregon State and Arizona State.

The specific construction management problems posed to this year's competing teams included an airmail bulk processing plant at San Francisco International Airport; five multi-story apartment buildings in Playa del Rey comprising 305 residential units and two levels of underground parking; rehabilitation of an airport runway and water drainage piping system in King City, and a new Air National Guard barracks and fitness facility in Colorado.

Mike Borzage, professor of construction management and regional director for ASC, commented, "I have never seen a single university achieve as much success as did Chico State's 2004 teams."

The faculty advisers were Mark Maybee for the commercial team, Lori Dixon for the residential team, Rich Holman and Matt Byrne for the heavy/civil team, and Willem Kimmell for the design/build team.

First place teams will travel to Florida in the late spring to the national competition.