Alek Leckszas
sion. In 2012 they placed fifth out of nine teams. “I am disappointed we didn’t score higher and that I’m a senior and won’t be able to compete and have the chance to win next year’s competition,” said the Virginia native. “I felt like there could have been many ways to approach the problem. Many variables. Nothing was definite. Maybe we should have directed more detailed questions to the panel?” Houchins plans to participate in the regional competition in the fall before graduating. “I want to continue to be involved with the competitions. I learn something new every time – about the industry and about myself,” said the 22 year old.
LEED the way
The Sustainable Building and LEED team’s assigned project, sponsored by SKANSKA involved a new “green” five-story office-building project in the Pacific Northwest. Alek Leckszas, a junior in
the construction engineering and management program, alongside Justin Rajadhyaksha, Andrew McNulty, Evan Underwood, Glenn Sullivan, and Tim Reddick, led the Sustainable Building and LEED team to a victory in their category, with the highest winning score in the history of the competition. It is apparent Leckszas understands the team’s success originates from dedication of each individual member. He was the only unseasoned member and had considered himself “the weakest link.” “All of the guys on the team work incredibly hard. These are the same guys that do well in and outside of the classroom,” said Leckszas, who is the director of philanthropy for the Student Engineers’ Council and Beta Theta Pi’s academic chair. “During my freshman year I was lucky to have lived in the Galileo community with the best role models. I attribute that as the basis for developing effective study skills and practices that I’ve carried throughout my time in college
Chris Fiori
Sam Houchins
thus far,” said Leckszas. Galileo is a residential-based learning community for freshman men in engineering. That’s not the only beneficial decision Leckszas has made. When Fiori solicited him to interview for a spot on the LEED team, he jumped at the chance. Fiori had recognized his potential in class and had taken notice of his interest in aspects of sustainability. Leckszas is now working towards a minor in green engineering. At the competition, the LEED team was relaxed and confident when they presented to SKANSKA. “On the first day, we had approached the problem incorrectly. Evan, our captain, realized it and quickly steered us in the right direction. From then on we knew we had nailed it and were extremely pleased with the win,” said Leckszas enthusiastically. The LEED team won best presentation in 2011 and seventh overall. The team placed ninth in 2009, fourth in 2010, and fifth in 2012. “Competing with my
Michele Woodford
team to win first in the Sustainable Building and LEED Competition has been one of my favorite experiences at Virginia Tech. It has also encouraged me to further pursue a career in sustainability with renewable energy,” said Leckszas.
Applicable to the real world
Fiori hopes the teams’ successes will encourage other students to participate in upcoming competitions. “There is no textbook for the experience they [the students] garner with their participation in this particular competition. They gain confidence knowing that what they are learning in the classroom is actually what they will apply in the field … in the real world,” said Fiori who is currently leading a $90,000 collaborative research project for NSF and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to study the work of the ancient engineers of the Great Inca road of the Andes.
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