BG
Brittney Goodwin
  • Civil Engineering
  • Hopkinsville, IN

Bree Goodwin of Evansville Designs Buildings in Mongolia for University of Evansville Civil Engineering Project

2012 Dec 11

In August 2012, a group of University of Evansville students spent their last days of summer break halfway around the world in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The data collection and research trip marked the beginning of a civil engineering senior project for Bree Goodwin of Evansville, IN, who is among five UE students designing two buildings for G.O. Ministries, a nonprofit organization based in Louisville, Kentucky.

After spending a week in Mongolia working with G.O. Ministries, UE students determined the need to design a dormitory and business center for local craft businesses and a retreat center for the ministry. Using the data collected on the ground, the students completed design preparations during the Fall 2012 semester and presented multiple options to G.O. Ministries leaders yesterday in UE's Koch Center for Engineering and Science.

During the Spring 2013 semester, the students will complete their structural design work and give a final presentation to G.O. Ministries, which plans to implement the students' design and begin construction in Ulaanbaatar in 2013 or 2014.

"One of the strengths of the University of Evansville's civil engineering program is the opportunity for students such as Bree Goodwin to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired to become engaged in real-world design projects," said Brian Swenty, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering. "This is not a paper exercise; historically, the students' design reports and drawings have served as the basis for construction of buildings and infrastructure by the project sponsor."

The University of Evansville thanks the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana and Kern Family Foundation for their generous support of this educational experience.