Wednesday, January 29, 2025
By: Joey Mazzaferro
For those that live in Gainesville, the thought of either walking or driving near the intersection of NW 13th Street and University Avenue adjacent to campus is enough to give one a nightmare.
That is why the site was chosen to be the subject of the 2025 Witters Competition, which was endowed by Arthur G. and Beverley A. Witters as an interdisciplinary academic competition to foster better understanding among design, construction, planning and engineering students.
The teams were given the project site on a Thursday evening and were asked to come up with interdisciplinary redesign solutions and then present their work on Sunday evening. Three days and three nights of intense work for the winner-take-all competition and the grand prize of $6,000.
Seven teams presented and, at the end of it all, the team of Ryan Amsel, Tanaya Kumar, Madeline LaMont, Nicholas Mollogan, Sebastian Reina, Brady Schaffstein and Zachary Wolpert were declared the winners.
They named their design “Alligator Alley.” Their proposal included a raised, textured roadway to reduce speeds of cars traveling through the intersection, thereby increasing the survival rates of any pedestrians that may be hit by a vehicle.
They also focused on adding green space to the eastern corners of the site since it was lacking. Their goal was to incorporate “UF-style” planting and character, so it feels part of campus still.
“Combining the art and wisdom of each discipline was gratifying,” team member Madeline LaMont said. “Everyone brought innovative strengths and ideas to the table. As the sole landscape architect, I was given opportunities to not only create landscape but to share that with the team and vice versa.”
Their project, along with the great work from the other teams, can be found here.
As has been the case the past few years, Tucker Ryals, the Witters’ grandson, was part of the jury, along with M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management associate professor Bryan Franz and David Capablanca (BDES ’09).
Joining Ryals from the Witters family this year was the Witters’ son, Art, and grandson, Matthew, who traveled from Tallahassee to witness the final presentations. It was the first time Art was able to see his parents’ vision for the competition in person.
“My parents would certainly be overwhelmed with the competition as it was on display,” Art said. “I am confident that each of the students involved benefited from the experience and will go on to represent the University of Florida in such a positive manner.” To learn more about the Witters Competition, visit https://dcp.ufl.edu/witters/.
