- Upper School
Freshmen students enrolled in Honors Geometry classes taught by Mrs. MaryAnne Hejna collaborated with their student coaches in Mrs. Thais de Leon-Perez’s ‘91 AT Stem Entrepreneurship class to devise innovative architectural concepts. These building designs had the flexibility to be situated anywhere in downtown Miami and were required to incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly elements.
After an initial round of evaluation involving 15 teams, the top four teams were chosen. On Monday, October 30th, these final four teams showcased their building designs to fellow students, faculty, and a mock panel of judges representing the City of Miami.
Carrollton was excited to welcome:
- Ms. Addy Nagle, a science coordinator for Miami Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization that advocates for clean water for the Biscayne Bay watershed. Ms. Nagle helps bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding through education and outreach.
- Ms. Jess McCoy, a structural engineer at Thornton Tomasetti who has experience in structural failure investigations, building condition assessments for restoration and retrofits, adjacent construction cases, and demolition engineering.
- Mayor Vince Lago, the Mayor of Coral Gables and the youngest mayor in the city’s history. During his tenure, Mayor Lago has spearheaded numerous legislative initiatives and has led the city’s sustainability efforts. He manages economic development while ensuring the vitality of Biscayne Bay and taking note of how conditions in Biscayne Bay may affect residents and property owners.
- Professor Mina Teicher, a mathematics and neuroscience professor at the University of Miami, with an international reputation in algebraic geometry, computer vision, cryptology, cyber security, computational neuroscience complex systems, and mathematical education. She has held many prestigious positions in other countries such as serving as Chief Scientist of the Israel Government.
- Mr. Jorge de la Paz, Deputy Director of Policy for Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. His professional journey is marked by his extensive expertise in the fields of affordable housing, public interest technology, and community development.
Camila Gomez-Peralta ‘27 and Ana Elisa Pantin ‘27 designed an innovative homeless shelter for Liberty City, featuring energy-efficient domes, solar panels for water collection, roof gardens, and indoor ecosystems. Their goal was to inspire hope and improve the lives of the homeless, with a broader aim of influencing homeless shelters worldwide. Stefania Dejanovic ‘27 and Maya Flint ‘27 presented the DEJINT building, a three-story art museum with unique spaces, a continuous spiral staircase, a self-sustaining garden dome, and solar-powered glass. Their vision was to create a cultural hub offering art from around the world, stunning views of Miami, and fine dining experiences. Emiliana Macedo ‘27 and Lila Malmierca ‘27 proposed the MMM Stadium, located near the Miami Metrorail for accessibility, to host sporting events, concerts, and community gatherings. The stadium would be powered entirely by solar windows, utilizing 3D printing technology for more efficient construction. Drennen Wester ‘27 and Gabriella Socarras ‘27 introduced "The Wings of Energy," a double-sided windmill design inspired by Greek mathematician Tesbius, promising to produce twice the energy. Their project aimed to position Miami as a sustainable energy provider and tourist attraction while educating visitors about sustainable living and the history of Tesbius through a dedicated museum.
Each team provided construction materials and methods, technology integration, and costs for their building. Geometric calculations included angles of elevation and depression, building footprint, and surface area. The judges provided critical feedback and thought-provoking questions to each team. Ultimately, they voted for The Beneficial Homeless Shelter as the winner of the competition. We are so proud of our students for their creativity, calculations, and model designs.