This conceptual design consists of an extruded aluminum spine and spacers, plus wooden stairs. The spiral composite staircase and wooden stairs are supported by extruded aluminum spacers for a contemporary look. Aluminum was chosen because the spacers can achieve a high-polished finish that complements the stairs. Submitted photo.

What do students at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia; Purdue University, West Lafayette Indiana; Alston University, England; Dawson College, Canada; and Megatrend University, Belgrade, Serbia have in common? Answer: Students at these colleges and universities won cash prizes in the 2012 Extrusion Technology Educational Foundation’s International Design Competition. They won cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 as well as international recognition for their conceptual designs featuring aluminum extrusions.

Rokhaya Ka, a first-year student at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale campus, won a third-place prize for her “Extruded Spiral Staircase” design. The conceptual design consists of an extruded aluminum spine and spacers, plus wooden stairs. The spiral composite staircase and wooden stairs are supported by extruded aluminum spacers for a contemporary look. Aluminum was chosen because the spacers can achieve a high-polished finish that complements the stairs. The spine is not visible, and has multiple radial keys to orient the wooden stairs and hold the spacers. Aluminum extrusion was ideal for creating these unique shapes with radial key fittings. All extrusions are designated to be formed from high-recycled content aluminum.

Ka submitted her entry as a term project for EGR 120, Introduction to Engineering, taught by Professor Peter

Pollak said, “I like students to participate in this international competition, because it introduces them to the real work world and is judged by representatives from industry, who are potential employers. To be successful after graduation, students must take an interdisciplinary, integrative approach and apply their knowledge to address a problem or need and communicate a solution.”

“The biggest challenge for NVCC students was applying their knowledge and communicating their ideas. Many students have good ideas, but have troubling expressing and presenting them. It is relatively easy for students to acquire knowledge about aluminum and the extrusion process,” said Pollak, who worked in the aluminum industry. “The challenge is in getting students to apply what they have learned to be relevant in today’s world and then present their ideas.”

Ka was thrilled to receive the international recognition and $1,000 cash prize. It is rare to get an opportunity to come away with these as part of a college term project.

To learn more about the design competition and the other Student Design Competition Winning entries go to etfoundation.org/dcsc2012.html.

By: Contributing Author

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