Back-to-school season comes once a year, but education never stops at the Metal Building Manufacturers Association. Through collaborative learning, the MBMA empowers professionals and students alike with a deeper understanding of innovative metal building solutions.
For example, a paper co-authored by MBMA staff proves the importance of the collaborative process and offering diverse ways to learn. Entitled “The role of design competitions in architectural education,” the paper underscores the importance of design competitions, noting that they build excitement around new design practices while introducing students to professional realities.
(The paper was presented in March at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture’s 114th annual meeting by Stephen Schreiber, FAIA, professor and chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Marcel Erminy, professor of practice of the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M University.)
The concept is not new: it is believed that the first architecture competition took place in ancient Greece after the Persian invasion. The Council of Athens wanted a victory monument to be built on the grounds of the Acropolis, and a competition was launched to select the design.
We agree wholeheartedly that competition can spur education and creativity while invigorating design. That is in part why the MBMA Student Design Competition was launched six years ago. For this year’s competition, we are asking architecture students to respond to an RFP for a public library that includes a 40,000-sf building and landscaped outdoor community spaces.
Of course, the innovative design must use a metal building system to meet the needs of the RFP and the community. Entries are due January 11, 2027, and you can find more information at www.MBMAeducation.org.
Success in this competition is highly dependent on a student’s understanding of metal buildings and how to be creative with this form of construction. For some, there will be a learning curve to overcome because not all architecture schools educate their students about metal building systems.
However, the MBMA helps address this deficit by hosting the annual Architecture Faculty Workshop, where college and university professors can learn about both metal buildings and the MBMA Student Design Competition.
Presenters include MBMA staff and guest speakers like Schreiber, who has successfully launched metal building system curriculum into a university design studio. The next workshop will be held April 6-7, 2027, at the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture in Oklahoma City.
Once architecture students launch their careers, MBMA continues to offer education opportunities, including four AIA-approved lunch-and-learn sessions:
- Metal building systems 101
- Creative design alternatives using metal building systems
- Using metal building systems to meet and exceed the energy code
- Advanced sustainability potential using metal building systems
Each session runs about one hour, and participants receive 1.0 HSW CEU. The information in these courses is dynamic and fresh. In fact, the “Using metal building systems to meet and exceed the energy code” course was just approved by AIA in July. Contact MBMA to have a free course presented in person, enhancing the educational and collaboration experiences.
The popularity of MBMA educational offerings grows every year with more design competition submissions, workshop attendees, and lunch-and-learn requests. Come investigate options, assess alternative thoughts, and evaluate potential results with us.
Tony Bouquot is the general manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association headquartered in Cleveland. Email tbouquot@mbma.com or visit mbma.com for more information.
