CE Projects – Spring 2021

Undergraduates in civil and environmental engineering must take CE 495. This capstone course prepares students for the workplace by providing an experience with the following challenges: 1) A project with multiple issues that must be resolved using civil and environmental engineering knowledge; 2) Formulation of conceptual solutions and resolution of conflicting design elements; 3) Development of plans that comply with regulations and provide a basis for cost estimates; 4) Balancing individual responsibility and group participation in a team based effort; 5) Preparation of written reports and oral presentations.

Each Civil and Environmental Engineering team is responsible for developing a design that addresses environmental, geotechnical, hydrological, pavement, transportation, and structural issues for the project. A student project manager coordinates each team. Design reports are judged by the faculty; progress reports and the oral presentations are judged by a board of practicing professionals.

CE 495 SENIOR DESIGN IN CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Michigan State University Shaw Lane Power Plant Renovation

Michigan State University is in the process of implementing components of its campus master plan. As a part of the 2020 Vision: Campus Master Plan Report, a new academic building was envisioned at the location of the now decomissioned Shaw Lane Power Plant. A recent update to the campus master plan suggested the option to renovate the existing building and add a substantial expansion to the building footprint. In conjunction with this project, the segment of Shaw Lane between Chestnut Rd and Red Cedar Rd will be reconstructed. Both the street reconstruction and the academic building expansion must be congruent with the overall campus master plan.

The project emphasizes implementation of green infrastructure. Green infrastructure refers to systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or harvest stormwater at its source. The competition requires proof-of-concept level designs that examine how green infrastructure could be integrated into an on-campus site to meet multiple environmental, educational, and economic objectives.