Looking Back: CIRT National Competition Celebrates 20 Years

20 years ago CIRT president Mark A. Casso, NAC, Esq. envisioned an opportunity for ACE student-mentor teams to gain experience with “real world” practical challenges -- That vision continues on in earnest this year as the 2026 -20th Anniversary- CIRT National Design + Construction Competition Challenges are released. Each year the competition seeks to provide challenges appealing to both students and mentors, and that address current trends, issues, and opportunities within the construction industry. Often we find that our young people - the next generation of construction, engineering, architecture, and design leaders - find the most elegant and innovative solutions, providing an electric opportunity for current CIRT members (CEOs representing 130 top construction firms) to engage with - and be inspired by - the industry's emerging talent.

To mark this anniversary year, CIRT invites the top three (3) preliminary finalists from each of this year's challenges - a total of nine (9) ACE Mentor student teams to come to Washington D.C. and present their work in front of a panel of industry professionals. The opportunity to defend their work in-person and within our Nation's capitol, provides a unique backdrop for building essential skills in leadership, teamwork, and perseverance, and an incredible capstone experience to carry them through college or job applications into the future. Learn more about the 2026 Competition and Challenges.

The mission of the program remains unchanged, and still true after two decades of growth:

"Celebrating the innovations and contributions the design/construction community makes to the quality of American life, while understanding the issues and challenges the industry faces to deliver on this legacy. With the goal to judge the ability of the students to make a reasoned, coherent, well thought out, clear presentations on their team’s design/construction approaches within the project’s objectives and the constraints of real life."

In preparation for the 20th Anniversary year, the Competition's founder and CIRT President, the late Mark Casso, shared his reflections on the vision, goals, and ultimately collaborative founding of the Competition in 2006. Here is what he shared:

"The Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) envisioned a legacy program for the organization’s twentieth annual event in 2007. As a national business association comprised of approximately 130 CEOs (today) from leading design/construction companies, CIRT had identified attracting, training, and developing the next generation of leaders – as top priority for the community and the industry.

The concerns regarding talent/workforce shortages steered many CIRT firms to become active participants and sponsors in the ACE Mentor program, both financially and by supplying mentors. The involvement of so many CIRT firms -- inspired the national competition initiative, to tap into the natural competitive nature of the “business” when seeking selection for a project.  As a result, the CIRT National Design + Construction Competition was established as a way to “mirror” the selection process, and for ACE Mentor high school student teams to showcase their abilities on a national stage.

Beyond the extraordinary growth from 6 to 64 entries, the competition format has remained consistent over the years, with only slight adjustments primarily in terms of the number and type of challenges in addition to the size of the awards.  Currently, there are three competition categories with particular emphasis in recent years on heavy civil solutions.  Annually, CIRT awards $14,750 in total to the ACE Affiliates (up from $6,000 in 2007) spread over three Worthy Finalists, and six runner-up teams from the three categories or options.

Since its inception, CIRT CEOs and executives believe that the national competition helps to focus and bring to life the opportunities and activities encountered in A/E/C industry. At the same time, the competition addresses an important need for the industry, both developing their own employees who serve as mentors as well provide valuable insights into the workings and practical aspects of all phases of infrastructure projects – from planning, budgeting, design, and all aspects of construction.

The national competition is a collaborative effort with the ACE Mentor Program of America, which is supported by CIRT members across the design/construction community.  CIRT maintains, coordinates, and judges the program on an annual basis. The final round presentations are conducted as part of CIRT’s spring conferences.  As a result, the mentor program receives valuable exposure and recognition among the leading firms of the community while infusing a level of energy and enthusiasm into the CIRT ranks, creating positive feelings of support from CIRT’s senior members."

Mark A. Casso (farthest right) and Charlie Thornton (left holding the check) present the National Finalists award at one of the first competition events.