Montgomery College’s Architectural Technology Program, in association with Torti/Gallas, a Silver Spring architecture and urban planning firm, have announced the winners of the College’s second annual student design competition.

The competition, developed by Professor Randy Steiner, the program coordinator, required students to design a clock tower for the Rockville Campus that would symbolize the new millennium, the importance of serving the community, the global simplicity of a clock, and the significance of "being on time." Design requirements included a map of the campus, a calendar display of campus events, a telephone, lighting, and a seating area. Alternate energy sources such as solar panels or sustainable materials were also required elements.

Torti/Gallas architects judged the entries and selected the top three winning designs. In a ceremony held this past December, Beatrix Gregg of Gaithersburg; Greg Skinner of Bethesda; and Michael Calafos of Mt. Airy received first place, second place, and honorable mention awards respectively, as well as cash prizes.

"The trick for a competition is to come up with a project that doesn’t exist yet on the campus," said Professor Steiner. "The students are only given six weeks from start to finish to design, draw, and make a model of the project. That isn’t much time if you are doing your other classes plus holding down a part-time job! Making the ‘time’ was critical for this project."

For more information, contact Professor Randy A. Steiner, AIA, at 240-567-7599 or e-mail rsteiner@mc.cc.md.us.