Eight teams of students, designers and builders will this month compete in a contest to design and build a bench.

The Institute of Bermuda Architects’ (IBA) ‘Benched’ competition is aimed at high school and university students and challenges them to create a bench by July 24.

“This competition will provide a unique opportunity for students to be involved in a design project and to understand how all construction projects, regardless of scale, require coordination and teamwork,” said IBA president Krystal Rodrigues. “We are excited to have so many teams competing in ‘Benched’.”

The final product, selected by professionals and the public, will be displayed on Front Street from Harbour Nights on July 29 to August 31.

Members of the public can select their top three entries on Dundonald Street, between Court Street and Union Street, from 11am to 3pm on July 25.

Professional judges will also view the submissions and make their decision based on design concept, creativity and use of materials.

Fifty per cent of the points will be awarded by the professional judges and 50 per cent by the public.

The students competing are Gabriella Botelho, Ayo-Oluwa Salawu, Luke Pimental, Jacob Pimental, Madeleine Brash, Korie Minors, Zane Hodgson, Anthony Swan, Yanna Smith, Kiarrah Rogers, Gemma Border, Anna Terceira, Cedar Chew, Azra Smith and Chiara Lombardi.

The competition is supported by Construction Association of Bermuda and professional design support has been provided by Botelho Wood Architects, Geoff Parker Architect, Linberg & Simmons, OBMI, Utopia and iEPC.

Builders assisting the students include Signworx, Somers Construction, James Chew, J&W Construction, ALM Construction and Bermuda Stripping & Refinishing.

“We are incredibly grateful to the design and building firms who have agreed to participate and to our sponsors, SAL & BCM McAlpine, who generously donated stipends for the teams to procure materials,” Ms Rodrigues said.

“We look forward to seeing the final products later this month.”