UC team wins first place in 2026 National Association of Home Builders student competition

A talented group of University of Cincinnati students has brought home national honors, winning first place in the production home build category of the 2026 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) student competition. The victory was announced during the NAHB Student Chapters Awards Ceremony at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida, where the team presented a comprehensive community development proposal to industry executives and national home-building leaders.

The full awards ceremony, including the moment the University of Cincinnati was announced as national champion (starting at approximately 1:13:43), is embedded below:

Under the leadership of Daniel Schlegel, a third-year Construction Management major who was instrumental in guiding the team through the intensive six-month process, the UC team delivered a standout performance. Special thanks go to Fischer Homes, which provided valuable mentorship throughout the project. Notably, four members of the team gained real-world experience as co-op students with Fischer Homes.

The team, mentored by Jill Flood, an associate professor in UC’s construction management co-op program, began work in August 2025 and spent the school year developing a full-scale production home community proposal. Their project involved everything from site selection and land development to architectural design, construction scheduling, cost estimating, marketing, sustainability features, and financial projections demonstrating strong return on investment. The NAHB Production Home Build competition challenges students to think and operate like a large-scale residential builder—precisely the real-world skills UC’s program emphasizes.

What made the UC entry stand out was its interdisciplinary approach. The core team consisted of Construction Management Engineering students from the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), but Professor Flood strategically recruited two architecture students and one urban planning student from UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) to round out the group. This collaboration brought expert design aesthetics, site planning, and community integration to the proposal, mirroring how successful home-building projects operate in the professional world.

Competing against dozens of teams from major universities across the country, the UC Bearcats delivered a polished, professional presentation and fielded tough questions from veteran construction executives. They ultimately took the top spot, with the University of Denver earning second place and Texas A&M University placing third. The win marks a significant achievement for UC’s Construction Student Association (CSA) and continues the university’s strong tradition of excellence in national construction competitions.

Professor Flood, who guided the team through months of intensive preparation, highlighted the power of bringing together different disciplines. “The team consisted mostly of CM’s, but we recruited two Architecture students and one Urban Planning student to participate!” she noted, emphasizing how this cross-college partnership elevated their project.

This victory not only celebrates the hard work, creativity, and collaboration of these UC students but also signals a bright future for the residential construction industry. Congratulations to the entire UC team—including leader Daniel Schlegel—and Professor Jill Flood on this outstanding national achievement! The Bearcats have once again proven that UC’s Construction Management and DAAP programs produce graduates ready to lead the industry.

Featured image at top: UC team accepting first place during the NAHB Student Chapters Awards Ceremony at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando (left to right): Joe Basti, Margaret Dull, Andrew Thatcher, Drew Hopper, Austin Pacula, Daniel Schlegel, Hannah Stark, Anthony Cordek, and Prof. Jill Flood. Photo/Provided.