Students pitch sustainability innovations at inaugural Hackathon

Students from across Carnegie Mellon spent part of their Engineers Week in Nashville, TN, pitching industry executives original solutions to pressing engineering challenges, like what can make data centers more sustainable, or how to handle rising global demand on energy systems.

During the inaugural Innovation Hackathon, an intensive innovation experience developed jointly by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and global engineering firm Gresham Smith, cross-disciplinary teams of graduate and undergraduate students, working engineers, and CMU researchers presented projects they’d been building throughout the semester.

Held at Gresham Smith's headquarters in Nashville, the hackathon showcased a range of technically rigorous and forward-looking solutions – from space-adapted cooling systems to an energy grid digital twin model – while connecting classroom learning with real-world industry practice. After deliberating with two Gresham Smith mentors throughout the weekend, the event culminated in a live pitch competition where teams presented their proposals to Gresham Smith leadership, and first place was awarded a cash prize.

First Place: Space Technology on Earth

Claire Bielski (CEE), Karma Bridgman (ECE), Chengyi Cai (HNZ), and Katherine Piper (CEE)

The CK Innovation Team was awarded first place for their project Space Technology on Earth. Drawing inspiration from NASA-developed cooling systems currently used on satellites and space stations, the team proposed retrofitting existing data centers with two-phase liquid cooling technology that dramatically reduces water and electricity use. Their approach could cut cooling energy consumption by up to 75% and reduce water use by 90%, all within a near-silent operation that offers a scalable, space-grade solution to one of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.

The team was awarded top prize, the Sustainable Impact Award, which came with a cash prize sponsored by the Center for Engineering Resilience and Climate Adaptation, a research center at CMU focused on strengthening our infrastructure and communities in the face of climate change.

Project Orbital

Andrew Bae (CEE), Alessandra DeLorenzo (CEE), Lauren Oh (CEE), and Jessie Son (CFA)

Project Orbital explored an ambitious long-term vision for sustainable data infrastructure: a modular, space-based data center. By leveraging the high capacity of solar energy in orbit and using space itself as a natural heat sink for cooling, the team – dubbed GS Lab – proposed a system designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions and water consumption. Their concept included a phased deployment strategy beginning with pilot-scale data centers and a 10-year cost analysis demonstrating long-term economic feasibility.

Project Orbital also received the People’s Choice Award, voted on by Gresham Smith employees who tuned into the broadcast of the pitch competition.

SustAIn

Victor Alvarado (MechE), Sonya Hamid (CFA), Ana Martinez (CEE), and Ariana Moin (CEE)

Team SCAVAS developed an interactive platform, SustAIn, that identifies industrial properties suitable for sustainable data center development – both above and below ground. The tool evaluates technical feasibility, environmental risk factors, and community impact to generate a transparent sustainability score. By combining flood zone mapping, infrastructure data, and mitigation cost estimates, SustAIn aims to guide smarter, more responsible site selection decisions.

Sustainable Server Syndicate (3S)

Raiyan Bakshi (CEE), Franklin Carter (ECE), Yuqing Huang (CFA), Meltem Shin Ozkoc (CFA), and Tiansheng Tan (CEE)

Students comprising team Meridian developed the Sustainable Server Syndicate: a data-driven dashboard designed to streamline data center site selection across the United States. Pulling datasets that include power plant output, fuel types, and gas pipeline infrastructure, the platform allows users to set priorities and constraints while automatically scoring potential locations based on environmental, ethical, and economic criteria. The result is a decision-support tool that transforms complex, siloed data into actionable insights.

Meridian received the Genuine Ingenuity Award for the most creative and innovative solution, which was accompanied with a cash prize. 

Grid Bridge

Dunsin Fadojutimi (CEE), Elizabeth Krauss (CEE), Mikenna Montgomery (CEE), and Taylor Zahairagunn (EPP)

Grid Bridge, developed by team DCHacks, introduces a secure digital twin of utility infrastructure that allows developers to simulate adding new energy loads before construction begins. Utilities input capacity and constraint data without exposing sensitive information, while developers can evaluate risk factors, interconnection demand patterns, and grid pressure points through a visual dashboard. By creating a shared planning environment that accounts for confidentiality, Grid Bridge helps reduce early-stage uncertainty and supports more resilient energy system development.

Power Pathway Optimizer

Nueraili Kuerbanjiang (CEE), Chenrui Xu (CEE), and Reza Zorakhsh (DC)

Power Pathway Optimizer addresses the uncertainty developers face when grid capacity cannot immediately support new projects. Through an interactive interface, users can model phased development strategies, compare alternative energy sourcing options, and evaluate tradeoffs between cost, reliability, and sustainability. The platform reframes energy constraints as opportunities for long-term, resilient community planning.

Site Trend Analysis and Ranking Tool (START)

Smitanan Sangkagoon (MechE) and Maciej Sobolewski (MechE, EPP)

START centralized siloed datasets into a single dashboard to support site assessment for major infrastructure projects, from data centers to hospitals and battery plants. The tool allows users to adjust weighting across metrics, such as environmental impact, resource access, and more, generating a compatibility score and ranked results. By incorporating predictive modeling and continuous risk assessment, START helps project owners make more informed, transparent decisions from the earliest stages of development.