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120 cadets enrolled in ME404 presented their concepts for the redesign of current project spaces in Mahan Hall. Cadets were asked to consider versatility, space efficiency, and security in their designs and queried their classmates and faculty to determine what would make an ideal space for cadet projects. Among the many ideas that cadets incorporated into their final designs were the following: collaborative work spaces, display areas, box seats that can also be used for storage as well as overhead storage, Smart Boards, protected testing areas, Wi-Fi capability, and a solar powered trash compactor.
This is the eighth year of the mechanical engineering design showcase, which is part of the senior cadet design experience and prepares cadets for the design process and collaborative nature of their impending capstone projects. Whereas last year’s ME404 cadets designed potential merchandise for WPAOG’s gift shop, this year’s cadets were asked to design a project space in Mahan Hall that could accommodate the increased cadet enrollment in the mechanical engineering program. (This year, 120 cadets will graduate from this program, making it the single largest academic major at West Point.)