The team also includes members from the American University of Sharjah, Higher Colleges of Technology and American University in Dubai, all located in the United Arab Emirates.

Team “Desert Phoenix” will compete with 14 other teams from around the world to design, build and operate sustainable models of solar-powered homes, with a focus on protecting the environment, taking into consideration the climate and culture of the region. 

These homes will be assembled at the SDME competition site in Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. The multidisciplinary teams compete in 10 different categories, ranging from best architecture and engineering to energy production for heating and cooling, while gaining invaluable real-world experience in a growing global industry.

Organized by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council, SDME is the largest solar decathlon competition for international universities. Its goal is to involve youth in sustainable development processes and encourage them to use their creativity to develop solutions that support global efforts to reduce the negative impacts of climate change.

“Conn Center’s intention is to forge partnerships with many other institutions and inspire students to address the global energy challenge,” said Mahendra Sunkara, director of the of the at UofL.

The team hopes to develop and introduce low-cost housing solutions with very low energy bills for low-income urban and rural living. Their design seeks to provide cost-effective, zero-net energy residential space with a low environmental and actual footprint to improve the affordability of these spaces, especially in the current world economy.

Each of the four universities will focus on a specific area in the project. Team members at UofL are focusing on the building structure, building envelope and energy conservation. AUS is focused on smart solutions and water management, AUD on architectural design of the house and HCT on civil engineering, especially water conservation.

“This multinational effort allows us to explore varied technologies and design philosophies to address common problems, with significant potential for improvement in performance and acceptance in all our countries,” said W. M. McGinley, professor of civil engineering at , who will lead the UofL team group, along with Sunkara.

“World-class competitions such as this are of immense benefit to students as they enable them to implement theories learned in classes in a highly practical and experiential environment, by way of innovative and cutting-edge designs and concepts, which will help to solve global housing issues,” said Tariq Khan, assistant professor in mechanical engineering and team leader at HCT. “Our eco-friendly house will be the best blend of architecture, reflecting local heritage and innovative engineering excellence with a focus on sustainability.”

The project also provides an opportunity to engage the community in support of the project.

“Each of the universities will reach out to the various institutions in the community according to their area of expertise to support the project, whether through technical expertise, funding or equipment. We aim to strengthen our community engagement and give back to society. The project will not only positively impact the community but will also increase the country’s energy security and make it less dependent on fossil fuel,” said Mostafa Shaaban, associate professor in electrical engineering and AUS project team leader.

The for Solar Decathlon Middle East along with more information about the competition is available on the .

“For as long as I can remember, I was fascinated by civil engineering, even when I didn’t know it yet. Ever since I was a child, I was intrigued by the structures that surrounded us. Skyscrapers whose sheer height and beauty left me in awe as the magnificent structures seemed to scrape the skies and reach to the heavens. Bridges whose legs pierce the vast depths of the oceans that bring not only people, but ideas and culture that change society for the better. I would always wonder how these structures came to be and how people like you and me constructed these grand structures from the ground up,” Jordan-Smith said.

This lifelong curiosity is why he chose to attend UofL. When he’s done, he wants to open up his own business. 

Jordan-Smith is part of the Community Foundation of Louisville’s #ScholarsofKentucky campaign, and is also a recipient of CFL’s William J. Kircher Memorial Scholarship.  

Photo provided by 

Kalbfleisch proudly identifies as nonbinary (expressing a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female) and bisexual, and it was ASCE Code of Ethics’ Canon 8, adopted in 2017, that helped empower their civil engineering dreams.

“Seeing gender identity and sexual orientation recognized and protected at such a high level gave me a renewed burst of enthusiasm to pursue my dreams within the field of civil engineering, even though people who look, act and identify like me aren’t traditionally expected to do so,” Kalbfleisch said.

At UofL, Kalbfleisch found an environment that was welcoming and supportive.

“The faculty, the staff, the advising team, and your fellow students – the school wants you to succeed,” said Kalbfleisch. “They walk the walk and not just talk the talk when it comes to diversity and inclusion. They listen to students of marginalized identities, and make sure that they’re academically safe here.” 

A native of Louisville, Kalbfleisch said they were initially drawn to the Speed School in their own backyard because of its quality reputation, but what really sold them was the co-op program, and all the opportunities for student involvement.

Kalbfleisch is active with the UofL ASCE Student Chapter, serving as the vice president of activities, as well as serving as treasurer for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and as a member of Speed Spectrum, the LGBTQ support group on campus.

“I really have loved the support that SWE and Spectrum give, as it is still traditionally kind of a male-dominated workforce,” said Kalbfleisch.

“I’ve been able to grow as a leader in different organizations and there’s so many opportunities on campus and in the community,” they said. “Having students that share identities and backgrounds with you; that you can grow together through your college experience, is really nice. And then ASCE, the civil society, has the more technical and professional opportunities.”

As a senior, Kalbfleisch has also enjoyed mentoring younger students. “I think the most meaningful part has been getting to work with underclassmen, whether as a teaching assistant or as a student organization officer, with younger folks reporting to me, or just recruiting new freshmen to organizations,” Kalbfleisch said. “Seeing where I was a few years ago, and how much I’ve grown since then, and knowing the growth that they’re about to experience, has been gratifying.”

Kalbfleisch has completed three semesters of full-time work at Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities Energy for co-op, with hydropower as a chief interest. But they hope to excel in many different areas of civil engineering, they said.

“It’s all about the real-world problem solving, the working with people,” Kalbfleisch said. “Once I discovered I could do everything I was interested in with a civil engineering degree, I fell in love. The scale and impact that our work can have, on communities and on people’s lives. It captivates me.”

This story was written by Holly Hinson. 

Well, civil engineering students at the University of Louisville built a concrete canoe and figured out how to make it float as part of a competition with students from other engineering schools in the region. They’re all student members of the American Society of Civil Engineers, applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to real life projects.

The president of UofL’s student ASCE chapter, Dawn Dunaway, says the Cardinals competed in concrete canoe, steel bridge and other categories, finishing in the middle of the pack at the competition at The Ohio State University.

“It’s the one time a year that we get to put all of our coursework together and actually go out and have fun and show people what we’ve learned,” she said.

Tom Jones’ concrete canoe building team spent hundreds of hours on its “labor of love,” filling the 280-pound vessel with just enough foam to make it float and hold 300 pounds. They called the hand-painted canoe “Maker’s Ark,” getting clearance from the famous Kentucky bourbon maker of a similar name.

The steel bridge team also spent hundreds of hours designing, managing and building a 20-foot bridge that could be scaled up to a 200-foot real bridge. The idea in competition is to construct a bridge that could carry the most weight quickly and efficiently.

“Seeing your cool projects come to existence, that’s pretty much what we’re doing” said Joe Dionisio.

Check out more of these students’ story below: