Middle Schoolers Design Futuristic Cities in Illinois Competition
In a unique fusion of creativity and engineering, middle school students across Illinois gathered to unveil their visions for future cities at the regional Future City competition. This initiative, part of a larger national contest, encourages young minds to conceptualize cities that address modern challenges with innovative solutions.
The event unfolded like a bustling science fair, with students presenting their projects rather than experiments. Among the participants was Annabelle Kramer, an eighth-grade leader from Wood Dale Junior High, located near Chicago. Her team was among 16 competing, each showcasing their designs to a panel of judges, including professionals from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Monica Crinion, one of the judges, engaged with Annabelle by asking, “What is your favorite farm-to-table feature?” This question resonated with the competition’s theme, encouraging students to integrate sustainable agriculture into urban environments.
Annabelle highlighted their city’s vertical farms, noting, “One of my favorite parts of the city is how beautiful the vertical farms are.” She described how the farms, represented by orange silos in their model, are designed with rotating levels to optimize sunlight exposure.
With a budget cap of $100, participants had to think outside the box. Repurposing old computer parts as industrial elements and using PVC pipes for transport systems, students demonstrated remarkable ingenuity. Dominick Duzinskas, another team member, explained their use of milk jug caps and sawdust to create plant-covered farm levels.
Parents like Joan O’Rourke were present to support their children. Recalling her son’s past participation, she remarked, “This event was eye-opening for him because it was all these engineers interviewing him, asking questions.” Her daughter, Siobhan O’Rourke, donned a white hard hat as she presented her team’s city, “St. Paul of the Crops,” which innovatively harnessed mushrooms and exowatts for its economy.
Max Weber, a sixth-grader on Siobhan’s team, described exowatts as their power source, utilizing concentrated sunlight to generate energy. His concise explanation highlighted the students’ understanding of renewable technologies.
As the competition concluded, anticipation filled the air. After a drumroll, St. Paul of the Crops was announced as the third-place winner, followed by cheers from the crowd. An after-school program secured second place, while Wood Dale clinched first place, earning the opportunity to compete nationally in Washington, D.C.
Annabelle expressed her excitement about the upcoming national competition, exclaiming, “I’m so excited.” The event not only showcased the students’ technical skills but also their enthusiasm and commitment to shaping the cities of tomorrow.
