It’s a miracle! Architecture students tread water without getting wet

The no.17 nationally ranked FIU Department of Architecture continued its annual tradition with the 34th year of Walk on Water. The competition has architecture students racing across the 232-foot-wide lake behind the Steven and Dorothea Green Library at MMC. The winning team earns bragging rights and a $1,000 prize.

“Each year I’m proud of the students,” said architecture professor, Jaime Canaves. “After the students recover [from the race], they will look back and realize how rewarding their efforts were.” 

Ninety-eight second-year architecture students, all in Canaves’ method and materials course, are paired off and tasked with designing and creating shoes that allow them to cross the lake on two legs. Passing the finish line guarantees them an “A” for the project. 

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It’s not about simply winning a race; the students apply all they’ve learned in the course about combining materials. To do this takes critical thinking and creativity. Sponsors supply the material they need, Professor Canaves gives his wisdom and tips, and the students must come together to decide how they’ll be able to cross the finish line, hopefully without getting soaked.  

“At the end of the day, it was up to us, to make the shoes that are best suited for us,” said Sebastian Aguirre, this year’s winner along with his teammate Alina Usher under the team name ‘Shoes of Galilee.’ 

The first time Aguirre took to the water to practice, he fell. The duo then learned about the weight distribution between each shoe and created a walking technique that didn’t require his feet ever fully leaving the water. From then, it was all about making the shoes fast as possible for them. They tried many materials and ultimately decided to add “scoops” below the shoes that can push them forward while keeping his balance.  

“This taught me trial and error while making sure we stick to codes,” said Aguirre. “Sometimes working with clients, the best design isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Sometimes you’d have to go back to the drawing board and change designs. It’s about perseverance and not giving up.” 

Up until the night before the race, they were working on the handles of the shoes which kept breaking during practice. In total, they broke two metal broomsticks and a wooden broomstick. To compete in the race, they decided to put all the broken pieces together with duct tape and PVC pipes to create the handles.  

All their efforts led to their first-place win – finishing the race in 59.6 seconds and receiving their prize.