Make48 Classroom Experience: PLTW Students Engineer Smarter Home Solutions

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) students are known for their ability to step into a problem and engineer a solution, and this semester’s Make48 Classroom Experience was no exception.

Teams faced off in the “Build for Living” challenge, presented by the Building Science 

Symposium. The prompt required students to look at the spaces where we live and breathe, challenging them to innovate within the realm of building science and home efficiency.

The results were a breath of fresh air. The student teams zeroed in on ventilation and air quality, producing prototypes that impressed both the judges and the industry sponsors.

Building a Foundation for Success

The competition was fierce, but three teams engineered their way to the top with solutions that balanced technical skill with practical application.

Congratulations to Columbia Area Career Center for receiving first place for the “Build for Living” challenge

A major congratulations to Absorba Vent Cover from the Columbia Area Career Center! Their project, "Absorba Vent Cover," took first place. This team identified a clear problem in home climate control and engineered a winning solution. We are excited to see the creativity and technical prowess they will bring to the regional competition!

Coming in second was Lafayette Senior High School with "ToroVent." Their prototype showed great promise and addressed the challenge with a unique design perspective. Rounding out the top three was Grain Valley High School with "Airby." Their "Super Sensors" concept demonstrated the kind of forward-thinking innovation we love to see from PLTW students.

Lafayette Senior High School (left) and Grain Valley High School (right) received high marks.

This challenge was a massive undertaking that brought together industry leaders to support student innovation. A huge thank you goes to the Building Science Symposium, along with partners Huber, Systemair, Sashco, and Aarow Building. We also want to thank the teachers and mentors who facilitate these challenges, the foundation of these students' success.

Want your students to be next? We’re already having schools sign up for a chance to participate in the 2026–27 Make48 National Tournament. If you’re ready to give your students a chance to innovate, compete, and learn real-world skills, let’s make it happen. 

Visit www.make48.com/classroom to learn more.