We are proud to share that this past semester, two of SS&L Architects’ intern architects, Seth Aude and Ben Woods, were members of Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science team that earned first place in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 2 Design-Build 
Competition—a prestigious, multidisciplinary competition sponsored by A M King. Their team’s first-place finish also came with a $1,250 scholarship award, recognizing both technical excellence and collaborative leadership.
Held annually, the ASC Region 2 Competition brings together some of the top construction, architecture, engineering, and design programs in the Southeast. This year’s event took place in Greenville, South Carolina, where 44 teams comprising more than 300 students from 18 universities competed across seven categories, including Design-Build, Preconstruction, Commercial, Heavy Civil, and more. Auburn University’s Design-Build team stood out among competitors from institutions such as Georgia Tech, the University of Florida, and Virginia Tech, securing first place in the Design-Build category for the third consecutive year.
The Design-Build competition challenges students to operate in a fast-paced, real-world environment that mirrors professional practice. Teams were tasked with stepping into the role of a design-builder for a new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility for MÜNZING, a global specialty chemical additives supplier based in Germany. The hypothetical project site was located on a 105-acre former tree farm in Clover, South Carolina, with 14 acres designated for development.
After a kickoff meeting, teams had just two and a half days to analyze the project requirements, develop a cohesive design and construction strategy, and produce a comprehensive written proposal and presentation. The scope included 71,000 square feet of warehouse, processing, and office space; food-grade and non-food-grade production areas; hazardous material storage; a testing laboratory; loading docks; parking; and employee welfare spaces. A last-minute addendum added another layer of complexity, requiring a freestanding R&D office and laboratory building.
Auburn’s six-member team—led by Seth Aude, with Ben Woods contributing alongside teammates Sara Coultress, Liz Campbell, Kevin Reilly, and Hannah Stratton—was coached by Senior Lecturer Bob Muir, Ph.D. Their proposal emphasized a fully integrated design-build approach, ensuring that design decisions were informed by constructability, efficiency, and long-term operational performance.
The team’s design focused on creating a unified campus experience, allowing corporate offices, warehousing, and manufacturing operations to function seamlessly together. Site planning, program layout, and façade design were
all carefully considered to support operational clarity while reinforcing MÜNZING’s brand identity. Drawing inspiration from the company’s existing German headquarters, the exterior design established visual continuity across continents. The team also went above and beyond by conducting solar studies to assess heat gain, analyzing nearby competitors, and clearly articulating their design and construction process during their presentation.
Judging was conducted by a panel of A M King executives, architects, and contractors—many of whom had experience on the real project that inspired the competition brief. Auburn’s submission earned high marks for its thoughtful site analysis, strong visual communication, and cohesive team collaboration. John Hildreth, PhD, PE, ASC Region 2 Director, noted that the competition provides students with valuable exposure to the realities of integrated project delivery, while A M King leaders praised the professionalism, creativity, and technical skill demonstrated by the teams.
SS&L Architects, is especially proud to see Seth and Ben recognized on this level. Their success reflects not only their individual talent and work ethic, but also the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning that prepares future architects for real-world practice. We’re excited to support their continued growth and celebrate this well-earned achievement.
Click here to read more about the A M King Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 2 Design-Build Competition
