Missouri’s contingent is made up primarily of students from Missouri University of Science and Technology, but includes students from the University of Missouri -Columbia.
“We have 11 of us from Missouri S&T and about three or four from the University of Missouri that come in for a couple of days and either help with the decorating or a little bit of the architecture,” said Sara Shafer, the public relations officer for the Missouri entry.
Each team is completing a project that began months ago and ends with erection of a house on the National Mall.
“We started construction back in February,” said Shafer. “We’ve been working on it all through the last semester and the summer and then brought it up here a week and a half ago.”
There are certain construction rules that must be followed.
“They have certain guidelines,” said Shafer. “For instance, it can only be 800 square feet. It has to be able to be tied to give energy back and for us to take energy if we need it. All in all we’re supposed to be a hundred percent energy efficient.”
There are several contests that culminate in the awarding of the prize.
“We’re set up to do ten different contests, including communications, market viability, lighting, indoor environment, just many different contests,” said Shafer.
The event began October 8th and runs through October 16th.