2026 Senior Design Conference Projects

Team Members:

Parker Schimberg, Andrew Dunnam, Samuel Hall, Drake Scoby

Project Company Sponsor:

CASE, Inc. 

Company Mentor: 

Mike Smith, P.E.

Faculty Mentor:

Dr. Roya Solhmirzaei

Abstract:

This project involves the civil and structural design of a Chemical Transfer Facility for ChampionX in Plantation Rome, East Bank Demerara, Guyana. This project is a typical, wide-ranging project that encompasses everything we have learned throughout the civil engineering curriculum.

The design of this project will accommodate up to 2,000 metric tonnes of chemical products on site. Key design components of this project include the site layout, grading plan, reinforced concrete storage yard, aggregate laydown yard, secondary containment system, and transfer shed foundation and steel structure.

Using owner-provided geotechnical data, design rainfall intensities, and various design books (such as AASHTO 1993 pavement design guide and ASCE 7-16), the structural and pavement portions of the project were designed to meet strength and serviceability requirements. In this project, we also provided a key secondary containment system, able to encapsulate the chemicals, in case a spill were to happen.

This completed design provides a code-compliant, cost-effective, and constructable facility that supports what ChampionX requested.

Team Members:

Joshua Luman, Aiden Remont, Aubrey Stark and Zachary Vines

Project Company Sponsor:

Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, Inc.

Company Mentor: 

Oliver Neal, P.E.

Faculty Mentor:

Dr. Elizabeth Matthews

Abstract:

The Town of Farmerville, Louisiana faces critical public health and regulatory concerns due to elevated Total Trihalomethane (TTHM) levels in its water system. The Safe Drinking Water Act mandates that these disinfection byproducts remain below 80 µg/L. Previous attempts using ozone disinfection and activated carbon filters failed due to carcinogenic bromate production and unsustainable operational costs. A long-term, cost-effective solution is required to reduce TTHM concentrations without introducing new contaminants into the system. Our project involves the design of a 2.4-million-gallon ground storage tank (GST) equipped with an internal spray aeration system. The design process utilizes geotechnical boring logs for foundation stability, EPANET software for hydraulic modeling, and two-stage first-order reaction calculations to optimize TTHM removal. The system includes 1,400 linear feet of 12-inch PVC and HDPE water main to facilitate increased contact time and contaminant stripping. Initially projected at $4.7 million, this project provides a durable, low-maintenance solution to ensure regulatory compliance and public safety.

Team Members:

Evan Abraham, Seth Alexander, Nick Bonner and Bryan Warwick

Project Company Sponsor:

District 05, LA Department of Transportation and Development

Company Mentor: 

Natalie Sistrunk, P.E.

Cameron Polk, P.E.

Abstract:

LA 617 (Thomas Road) – I-20 to US 80 is a road segment that experiences high pedestrian activity and heavy average daily traffic, with numerous access points for both vehicles and pedestrians. As future civil engineers, the improvement of quality of life is an important aspect related to our career. The roadway is currently configured as four lanes with a center turn lane. It is also recognized as a high-accident area. The scope of this project consists of traffic data collection, developing options for decreasing accidents, performing safety analysis, reviewing crash reports, traffic control, intersection redesign, pavement redesign, studying and modifying traffic signals, and cost estimate, and sequence of construction on a chosen method. 
By collecting data for the roadway and the two intersections, our team can begin the design process through different analysis and calculations. Due to this project being theoretical, this design is based on what we, as students, deem would be most practical if it were to be implemented. Our hope is that this project has the potential to provide an improvement in safety and overall better experience for the pedestrians and drivers.

Team Members:

Jesse Bertucci, Zachary Howe, Ashtyne Monceaux, & Shelby Wicker

Project Company Sponsor:

Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, & McClelland Inc.

Company Mentor: 

Daniel Thompson, PE, SE - Principal/Structural Engineer

Faculty Mentor:

Dr. Shaurav Alam, PE

Abstract:

The Winn Community Health Center design project, sponsored by Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, & McClelland, Inc., involved the structural design of a new three-story, 17,218 square foot medical office building in Winnfield, Louisiana. The new medical office building features a structural steel framing system, load-bearing concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls for the stairwells and elevator cores, and an escalator bridging the first and second floors. The scope of work for this project included the design of the structural steel members, slab-on-grade, foundation system, and CMU components. The architectural designs, provided by Tim Brandon Architecture, were utilized during the structural design of the building. For the foundation design, the geotechnical report conducted by Geotechnical Testing Laboratory, Inc. was used to determine soil suitability and strength. This project was accomplished by applying the principles taught in the structural and geotechnical engineering classes. The following codebooks were utilized and followed throughout the project design process: ASCE 7-16, IBC 2021, AISC 2016, ACI 318-19, and CMU-MAN-001-03.

Team Members:

Gracyn Badiali, Joseph Haydel, James Jackson and James Webb

Project Company Sponsor:

Lazenby & Associates and District 05, LA Department of Transportation and Development

Company Mentor: 

Ryan Spillers, P.E.

Faculty Mentor:

Dr. Elizabeth Mathews

Abstract:

We were tasked with designing a single-lane roundabout in Ouachita Parish at the intersection of US 80, LA 546, and LA 15. This intersection has experienced several high-speed crashes due to the lack of protected turns and steady traffic from all directions. A roundabout was selected as a safer alternative because it naturally slows vehicles and reduces severe conflict points. The roundabout was designed for a target speed of 15 mph to improve safety while maintaining efficient traffic flow.
Our design process began with collecting traffic and crash data to better understand existing conditions. We then completed the horizontal and vertical geometric design of the intersection to meet the required design speed, followed by drainage design. Finally, we designed the pavement structure, including the surface and subgrade layers. One of our most important decisions was selecting asphalt pavement instead of concrete. Asphalt allows for faster construction and can be opened to traffic more quickly, reducing the need for full roadway closures.
Although this project is conceptual, it demonstrates how civil engineering design can provide practical solutions that improve public safety.

Team Members:

Ben Doughty, Jesse Oliver,  Michael Meggs and Luke Spillers

Project Company Sponsor:

T. Baker Smith

Company Mentor: 

Daniel J. Binet, PE
Brady Smith, PE, PMP

Faculty Mentor:

Dr. Roya Solhmirzaei

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to design the replacement of an existing timber bridge that has been classified as structurally deficient. The proposed solution consists of a five span cast-in-place concrete slab span bridge designed in accordance with applicable state and national standards. This project will cover topics on hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, geotechnical engineering, roadway design, and structural engineering principles. Hydrologic and hydraulic evaluations include determining the peak discharges of design storm years ranging from 2 to 500, headwater elevation calculations, and scour analysis all following Louisiana DOTD Hydraulics Manual. Geotechnical engineering will be used to evaluate existing soil conditions to then design the deep pile foundations of the bridge. Roadway design will include setting the vertical alignment of the roadway to an acceptable elevation. Structural engineering principles will be used to ensure adequate strength, serviceability, and durability of the proposed bridge system. The result is a safe, durable, and cost-effective bridge replacement solution that improves infrastructure reliability and meets modern design standards. 

Team Members:

Owen Britton, Cade Lollar and Austin Pippin

Project Company Sponsor:

DeForest Engineering Consultants

Company Mentor: 

Dave Lewis, Project Manager

Faculty Mentor:

Mr. Reginald Jeter, P.E.

Abstract:

This project is a general civil design project that focuses on grading design, utility infrastructure, and hydraulics to design a commercial retail shopping center and its parking lot.
The proposed strip retail center will be located at the southeast corner of Goode Avenue and U.S. Highway 167 in Ruston, Louisiana. The site is currently an empty lot bordered by existing commercial and residential development. The goal of the project is to create a feasible, code-compliant design while maintaining safety, accessibility, and aesthetic standards appropriate for the Highway 167 corridor. 
The project approach included evaluating site geometry, organizing parking and drive aisles, and calculating grading to support drainage and surface flow across the property. The design was rendered through Civil 3D, and formulas provided by our industry advisor allowed us to calculate sewage, traffic flow, and runoff.
The final design produced an organized commercial lot layout with efficient use of space and a grading plan that supported drainage across the site. These results demonstrate the importance of integrating site layout and grading early in the design process.

Team Members:

Allan Pineda and Tremond Thompson

Project Company Sponsor:

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

Company Mentor: 

Phillip Sturdivant

Abstract:

This project focuses on the redesign of an existing highway segment characterized by a 90-degree horizontal curve associated with a high frequency of vehicular crashes. Such abrupt curvature violates driver expectancy and requires rapid deceleration, increasing the likelihood of accidents for inattentive drivers. The objective of this project was to develop a safer and more efficient roadway alignment that mitigates these risks.
To address this issue, a new horizontal alignment was developed using a radial curve to provide a smoother transition for vehicles. Multiple design alternatives were evaluated using a decision matrix to determine the most effective configuration based on safety, feasibility, and performance criteria. Vertical alignment was designed using AutoCAD to ensure consistency with terrain and roadway standards. Additionally, pavement thickness was determined using the AASHTO design method to ensure structural adequacy under anticipated traffic loads. The final design improves driver comfort and reduces the need for abrupt speed changes, thereby enhancing overall roadway safety. This redesign demonstrates the importance of geometric consistency in highway design and provides a practical solution for reducing crash rates in similar roadway conditions.