From BuildingsNEXT to the Workforce: A Pathway to Professional Excellence

On April 25-27, collegiate teams from across the globe will convene in Golden, Colorado for the U.S. Department of Energy BuildingsNEXT™ Team Showcase (formerly the Solar Decathlon). As part of the showcase, student teams will present their innovative building designs, highlighting their understanding of building science and their visions for improving the built environment. With unparalleled real-world training, BuildingsNEXT is shaping the next generation of building professionals.

But what comes next once the showcase is over? How do alumni bridge the gap between college and their professional careers, and leverage the skills gained from their BuildingsNEXT experience? Two recent graduates and competition alumni—both now thriving at CMTA, a Legence company—answer these questions by sharing their collegiate experiences, transition into the workforce, and the competition’s impact on their career growth.

Prepping the Next Generation

A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Mounty Imteyaz is now an electrical engineer in CMTA’s Lexington, Kentucky office. With dual degrees in Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Mounty served as project lead for IIT’s Solar Decathlon team in the 2024 Design Challenge.

“The most rewarding part of the competition for me was being able to listen to other [teams] talk about their projects,” Mounty commented. “I love learning and seeing how other people approach the same problem with their own unique twist, versus what my team and I brought to the plate.”

Reflecting on her experience, Mounty described how the competition introduced her to the industry, providing networking opportunities and preparation for her future career. “The competition prepares students for careers by taking you through the motions of what a career in this field will look like,” she said.

“In the competition, I got to solve one problem. In the professional world, at CMTA, I get to see several problems and try to solve them in mostly different ways. It’s not always one solution fits all, which is exciting because you get to try out different innovative things.”

Isaac Saneda, a Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) graduate and competition alum, also highlighted the competition’s value in preparing students for their future careers. As a Mechanical Engineering major, Isaac was the engineering lead for VCU’s first Solar Decathlon team, competing in the Attached Housing Division final competition. Now a mechanical engineer in CMTA’s Richmond, Virginia office, Isaac described how his collegiate experience has translated into his professional career. “The largest skill that I gained [from the competition] was learning about energy modeling and how different sides of your building can impact your energy loads—heating and cooling loads—and those are skills that I use today,” he said. “I went from modeling a 1,200 square foot house [for the competition] to a 300,000 square foot school [at CMTA], and those skills are very transferable.”

These transferable skills are what enable BuildingsNEXT alumni to seamlessly transition from their collegiate projects to impactful professional careers. With a foundation in energy modeling, sustainable design, and innovative problem-solving, many alumni - like Isaac and Mounty - are now thriving in their professional roles, where they continue to innovate and influence sustainable design and engineering.

From College to Career

As the lead event sponsor, Legence recognizes the unique value BuildingsNEXT alumni bring to the industry.

“Legence looks for students that are leaders, innovators, and pioneers, and BuildingsNEXT really encourages all of those traits,” said Kevin Mussler, Vice President of CMTA, a Legence company.

“Whenever we’ve been able to hire someone who worked on the competition, they are head and shoulders above [the rest]. They are innovative; they are entrepreneurial; they are the best of the best.”

Numerous alumni have found their professional homes within our offices nationwide, drawn by the competition’s alignment with our mission to transform the built environment. “I think that the values and mission of Legence align with BuildingsNEXT because, at the end of the day, it’s about growing together towards the betterment of everyone,” Mounty explained. “With BuildingsNEXT, you get to do that on a smaller scale. Meanwhile, Legence is doing that on a much larger scale.”

Isaac also shared what excites him most about working at CMTA. “The most exciting part about working for CMTA and Legence is being at the forefront of building science, and literally ground-breaking projects,” he said. “Very impactful projects that I’ve had here at CMTA so far have been working with my alma mater, VCU. Being able to switch your brain from being a student a year ago and then being on the design side is really enriching, as someone who used to interact in those spaces.”

CMTA is thrilled to welcome competition alumni to the team to drive innovation in the built environment. Highlighting the value these alumni bring, Kevin Mussler shared, “Alums who have worked on the BuildingsNEXT projects really have a leg up in this industry, and they can hit the ground running and have a passion for the types of projects that we want to do.”

Legence is proud of our BuildingsNEXT alumni and the contributions they bring to our offices nationwide. With the 2025 Team Showcase on the horizon, we’re eager to see the innovative ideas and passion this next generation of participants will bring to their communities, the industry, and the future of the built environment as they join the buildings workforce.

If you’re inspired by Legence’s mission to transform the built environment, we invite you to explore our careers page. Together, as Mounty aptly puts it, we can “be our best selves while we do some pretty fantastic things in the real world.”