Capstone Senior Design Course

C/EVEN 5/4434 is the capstone design course for EVEN seniors. 鶹Ժ choose a single project from an array of options spanning environmental engineering: water, energy, developing communities, applied ecology, hazardous waste and air quality. Project teams then execute a semester-long project in three phases:

  1. Project proposal
  2. Alternatives assessment
  3. Preliminary design

Each project is an authentic, current issue with a client, technical advisor and industry mentor. Each phase of the project culminates in a written deliverable and oral presentation. Many projects are associated with national competitions.

There are three major course outcomes:

  • Work as a team to solve a large, authentic engineering problem using all your skills.
  • Design a complete system after having evaluated alternatives on a standardized triple bottom line basis.
  • Communicate your design in written reports and oral presentations.

C/EVEN 5/4434 Spring 2023 Syllabus 

Process From Start to Finish

  1. Projects are presented to class. 鶹Ժ vote which project they would most like to work on and are assigned to projects and teams.
  2. Teams create written proposals for their project and present on their proposals.
  3. Teams complete exhaustive alternatives assessments and present on their findings. Teams defend which alternative is the best fit to meet the project goal.
  4. Teams create preliminary designs to meet the project goal and present and report on finished products. 

Example Projects

  • Designing a Sustainable Water System for Remote Communities
  • Investigation Water Savings Opportunities for Cooling Towers via Replacement, Recovery and Treatment
  • Designing a Sustainable Microgrid for Mulit-family Affordable Housing
  • Chlorinated Solvent Remediation
  • FAA Design Competition for Universities: Control of Deicing Chemicals at Denver International Airport
  • WEF Student Design Competition: Biosolids: Digestion, Dewatering, and Handling Evaluation and Design for Parker, CO
  • 20-year Masterplan for Denver Water's 280 MGD Foothills Plant
  • Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project: Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant

Capstone Design Team National and Regional Award Winners

2024

  • Third Place, Student Design Competition, Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (National Award)
  • First Place, RMWEA Student Design Competition; (National Award)
  • Honorable Mention, NREL HeroX Solar Distric Cup; "Solar for Seattle" (Global Award)

2023

  • First Place, RMWEA Student Design Competition; "Phosphorous Removal at Copper Mountain” (Regional Award)
  • Second Place, 10th annual Collegiate Wind Competition (National Award)

2022

  • Judges’ Choice Award, Waste Management Education Research Conference (WERC) Environmental Design Contest; “Monitoring Virus Removal by Membrane Bioreactors during Water Reuse" (National Award)

2021

2019

2018

  • First Place, Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition, New Orleans, LA; Team Curatio Engineering - ”Enhancing Nutrient Removal at Boulder’s 75th St. Wastewater Treatment Facility.” (Regional and National awards)

2017

  • First Place, Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition Competition, Chicago, IL; ”Biolsolids Digestion, Dewatering, and Handling Alternatives Assessment.”  (Regional and National awards)  
  • First Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; Team IIB Consulting - Control of Deicing Chemicals at Airports Using Subterranean Aerated Gravel Beds." (National award)

2016

2015

  • Second Place, RMSWEF Student Design Competition; “Frisco Sanitation District Senior Design Project” (Regional award)
  • Third Place, RMSWEF Student Design Competition; “Boulder 75th Street Wastewater Treatment Facility Phosphorus Removal and Recovery” (Regional award)

2014

  • First Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; “Twice Repurposed Crumb Rubber as a Jet Fuel Solidifier.”  (National award)
  • Third Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; “Fuel Containment Channels at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE).”  (National award)
  • Second Place, RMSWEF Student Design Competition; “Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility: A Boulder Approach to Advanced Phosphorus Removal” (Regional award)

2013

  • Second Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; “Fuel Spill Containment at Bozeman International Airport and LED Runway and Taxiway Lighting Powered with On-Site Solar Panels” two teams - (National Award)
  • Third Place, Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition; Arsenic Removal Project for 75th Street Wastewater Treatment Facility at Boulder, Colorado; CU Team CVC.” (First place regional and third place national)
  • Second Place, Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition; Arsenic Removal Project for 75th Street Wastewater Treatment Facility at Boulder, Colorado; CU Team Berber Water.” (Regional award)

2012

  • First Place, Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition; “Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Plant for Broadmoor Park community. 0.06 MGD.” (First place regional and national)
  • First Place, AECOM Student Design Competition; “Upgrade wastewater treatment plant to achieve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions.” (North American award)
  • Semi-Finalists, AECOM Student Design Competition; “Treat drinking water to remove naturally occurring radionuclides.” (North American award)
  • Second Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; “Design energy-efficiency changes for non-terminal areas at Denver International Airport.” (National award)
  • Third Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; “Design improved treatment of aircraft deicing waste for Denver International Airport.” (National award)
  • Third Place, FAA Airport Cooperative Research Program Competition Environmental Interactions at Airports; “Design improved stormwater system for Anchorage International Airport.” (National award)

2011

  • First Place, AECOM Student Design Competition; “Design a 10 MGD upgrade for drinking water treatment facility that requires softening.” (North American award)

2010

  • Semi-Finalist, AECOM Student Design Competition; “Design an upgrade for a 10 MGD surface water treatment facility to remove pesticides.” (North American award)

2009

  • First Place, Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition; “Design upgrade to the Denver Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant including nutrient removal.” (First place Regional and national)

Example Companies

National Organizations

Companies

 

Utilities/Local Governments

Senior Design Faculty Advisor