(CENTER FOR CAREER & TECHNOOGY EDUCATION -- June 24, 2020) — Recent Franklin grad Braeden Byrd, who last month won a national design competition, continues his winning streak by taking took top honors in the El Paso Association of Builders’ annual Young Designer Challenge.
“The work that Braeden did was called ‘above and beyond’ by several of our judges,” said Ray Adauto, executive vice president of the builders’ association. “When we announced the results, it was clear that Braeden had delivered some great work. Details are so important and the judges felt the work was exceptional by Braeden and the other students.”
The competitors designed a two-story, four-bedroom, 2,350 square foot house built to meet El Paso building codes.
“I wanted to incorporate a more open design into my project, so I had the kitchen, dining area, and family room become one large room without walls dividing up the area,” Byrd said. “This makes the space where residents would spend a majority of their time feel less congested. With the design having the idea of being developed in El Paso, I used styles from the area to create the exterior such as stucco walls and Spanish tile roofing so the building could fit in nicely with the style of El Paso.”
To view plans of Byrd's design, clicm here.
Last month, Byrd won the top prize in the National Association of Women in Construction Education Foundation’s annual architectural design competition, earning him a $1,500 check for his design of a visitor’s center for the U.S.S Cod Submarine Memorial in Ohio. He won another $1,500 scholarship for taking first place in the builder’s association competition.
“I was really surprised when they said that I won because this competition was open to students in the El Paso area, so I was mostly competing with other students in my own architecture class who had the same knowledge as me,” Byrd said. “I think the best part of the competition was seeing my friends also receive scholarships and knowing that all of our hard work helped us in the end.”
The recent Franklin grad plans to study architecture this fall at the University of Texas at Austin. He credits his success to teacher Cecilia Orozco for the guidance she provided him throughout the architectural program.
“I’d like to thank to Ms. Orozco and all of the other friends I made taking architecture,” Byrd said. “Even though this wasn't how I expected my high school career to end, I'm glad I was able to meet all of them along the way.”
Rounding out the winners were, also from CCTE were:
- 2nd place – Maxon Rene Morales from Franklin ($1,000 scholarship)
- 3rd place – Alondra Juluisa Muñoz from Franklin ($750 scholarship)
The builder’s association also awarded $500 scholarships to the following students:
Amelia Rae Whitener from Franklin, Andres Salgado from Andress and Joshua Sanchez from Anthony (also a CCTE student).
“The competition was judged by a distinguished group of members from the association, both builders as well as specialists in permit and inspections,” Adauto said. “Our goal is to encourage these students to enter into the construction industry as builders, engineers, architects, or other industry professionals.”
