ACE Mentoring Students Present Amphitheatre Project

Ben Davis High School’s ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentoring Chapter recently capped off a year of innovation and collaboration by presenting their final project at the Builtwell Event Center. From August through May, the group of dedicated students tackled the ambitious challenge of designing and planning the development of an amphitheatre, This task combined real-world problem-solving with creative design.

The project began with the selection of a proposed site just west of Lucas Oil Raceway Park, an area already dealing with significant noise levels. Students were prompted to think critically about acoustics, community impact, and smart design strategies. To gain hands-on industry experience, the students visited the Etica Group Engineering and Architecture Firm and toured the IUI Medical Building job site. These experiences provided valuable insight into architectural planning, structural engineering, and construction management.

Utilizing Revit, a professional design software, students created detailed building and site plans for the amphitheatre. They worked closely with local architects, engineers, and construction professionals, receiving mentorship and guidance from industry leaders including Mark Nordmeyer, Ed Brown, and Jack Leibham.

This year’s ACE Mentoring cohort included: Bradley Alvarez, Anahi Amaro, Eyobe Assefa, Raiesa Bay, Ayden Knowles, Gisel Matamoros Ruiz, Jayden Mauss, Aaron Mwebe, Joey Noel, Braydan Shumaker, Colton Taylor, Dominick Taylor, Karsten Verbek.

Several students were honored with scholarships in recognition of their exceptional contributions and potential in the field: Bradley Alvarez, Braydan Shumaker, and Karsten Verbek. Congratulations to all the students and mentors for a successful and inspiring year!