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March 13th, 2017
ACE Team 8 – Meet DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora
The ACE Mentor Program of America, Inc. (ACE) inspires high school students to pursue careers in design and construction. The mission of the ACE Mentor Program is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and to support their continued advancement in the industry.
On March 13th, DDC’s ACE TEAM 8 met with DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora to discuss their Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) proposal for the “Upgrade a Structure Challenge.” An up-cycling of the abandoned Buffalo Central Terminal. Over the course of the semester, TEAM 8 developed several solutions with their mentors using present and future technology for revitalizing the community that surrounds the Buffalo Central Terminal. Some of their ideas included turning the expansive roof of the terminal into a community garden, and installing “solar flowers,” small compact solar panels that track the sun and mimic flowers by folding up at the end of the day.
“Abandoned spaces like the one TEAM 8 has up-cycled will make it a destination not only new businesses, but also help rejuvenate the surrounding communities,” said DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora. “I find the project quite interesting and I have no doubt you all will all become successful engineers and architects.”
DDC’s ACE Team 8 successfully submitted their project to the CIRT Competition, and is currently waiting for the results. If selected as finalists, ACE Team 8 will have the opportunity to present their project to a CIRT panel of judges. Although their project is complete, ACE Team 8 will continue to develop their concepts, and hone their critical thinking and design skills.
