Alfred State Team with New Rochelle Student Finishes Third in National Design-Build Competition

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (January 22, 2026) — A New Rochelle architecture student was part of an Alfred State team that placed third nationally in the 2025 National Student Design-Build Competition sponsored by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).

Fernanda Ceja of New Rochelle, NY, an architecture student at Alfred State and a New Rochelle High School graduate is a member of the Pioneer Design-Build team, along with architecture students Jessica Budd (Fairport, NY), Selena Fullone (Webster, NY), Connor Welsh (Staten Island, NY), and architecture/construction management student Owen Lantiegne (Lafayette, NY), who served as team captain and project manager.

“I am so proud of my team and so incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” said Ceja.

The team, advised by Architecture and Design Professor William Dean, first won first place in DBIA’s Liberty Northeast Region. They advanced with seven other regional teams and were selected alongside teams from Florida and California to present at DBIA’s Design-Build Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

There, they competed against teams from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo and the University of Florida by responding to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Governor John Dutton III Memorial Airport, Terminal ‘B’ Phase 2 Expansion Project in Bozeman, Montana, a $59 million project. Teams prepared a proposed design, construction schedule, and estimate.

This marked the second time in three years that Alfred State placed in the top three nationally in the competition.

Dean said: “This is the second time in three years that Alfred State has placed in the top three nationally in this competition, and Owen’s steady leadership provided continuity from last year’s region-winning team. The student’s work ethic, collaboration, and level of preparation were exceptional, and I was impressed with both their submissions and the final presentation.”

Lantiegne said: “This competition provided our team with a unique opportunity to compete in a collaborative, real-world project environment. By working closely with faculty advisors and industry professionals, the team applied technical knowledge while developing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Our first-place regional finish led to a great opportunity to present our project to a panel of industry professionals and ultimately finish third in the nation. This success reflects the collective effort, diverse viewpoints, and dedication of each team member. The experience continues to positively influence the team’s professional growth and readiness for future careers in the design and construction industry.”

The team received guidance from design professionals at Azar Design Co PC, led by Gwen Howard, AIA, Senior Vice President of Architecture (Buffalo, NY), and financial sponsorship from CPL, Popli Design Group, MRB Group, Rozzi Architects, and SWBR.

The competition encourages students to demonstrate knowledge of design-build and use skills and creativity to set them apart as future design-build leaders.

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.