MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Air University and MGMWERX collaborated together to create the MGMWERX design challenge for AU educational classrooms and spaces.
The challenge invited interior designers, design students, architects and engineers to design innovative educational spaces that would enhance the learning experience for both instructors and students.
"MGMWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement to align with the education initiatives of Air University,” said Eric Gerritson, MGMWERX Innovation and Collaboration Principal. "We augment ongoing Air University programs through events like our Facility Redesign for Innovative Learning Pitch Day, which supported the generation of innovative and cost effective ideas borne from small businesses which are doing BIG things on behalf of the 21st century Warrior student and Air University."
The challenge was separated into three phases that spanned over a period of three months.
- Phase I: The submitted solution proposals were reviewed, and the solutions following specified guidelines went on to the next phase.
- Phase II: The solutions were re-evaluated based on their update and three were chosen for the next and final stage.
- Phase III: Pitch day. The three finalists pitched their ideas to a panel of judges and were assessed based on a list of specifications.
Pitch day occurred May 13, and guest judges included AU commander and President, Lt. Gen. Lt. Gen. James Hecker and AU command chief, Chief Master Sergeant Tamar Dennis.
The final contenders were Malone Office Environments, Brown studio Architecture, Chenega Defense and Aerospace Solutions and they were judged based off of design constraints, effectiveness, functionality, quality, creativity and aesthetics.
In the end, Chenega Defense and Aerospace Solutions took first place, Brown studio Architecture then in second and Malone in third.
The winning team took home a cash prize of $3,500 and has the opportunity of their designs being implemented across Air Force classrooms.