The nearly completed American Express Community Stadium in Brighton was host to forty budding young engineers on 5 May for the South East England regional final of the Create Sport Challenge – a national schools competition that has seen teams of 12 to 13 year old students from across the UK plan, design and construct a model for a new sports venue in their region.
‘Charters’ Chartered Challengers’ from Charters School in Ascot were crowned regional champions after impressing the judges with their innovative designs and model of a stadium. The winning team will now go forward to the grand final on 27 June at One Great George Street in London to compete for the national trophy.
All of the teams, from schools in Reading, Ascot and Croydon, presented their models and designs to a judging panel that included the construction chief behind Brighton & Hove Albion’s new home ground, Kevin Underwood, Director of the Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd. They were challenged to think about the project from an engineering perspective, taking into account real technical, infrastructure and sustainability constraints and concerns such as transport links, flooding, drainage and water use, energy use and generation, environment, communities, town planning and safety aspects.
Kevin said:
“The designs and models the young engineers have created today show an impressive level of technical skill and team work. I was also impressed with their appreciation of the challenges of constructing a community sports venue. I congratulate all of the teams involved for their inspiring work and wish the winners all the best at the national final in London.”
John Laverty, Regional Director, ICE South East England said:
“Studying for a degree in engineering requires a school level education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, so engaging pre-19s is vital to ensuring new talent is attracted into the profession. Events such as this, delivered by the ICE in partnership with Arup and EDT, inspire young people to make a difference in the world through becoming an engineer.”
Participating schools: Queen Annes school, Reading, Reading Girls School, Charters School, Ascot, and Edenham High School, Croydon.