Photo by Bob Phelan, Missouri S&T. Originally published on architectmagazine.com.

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Solar House Design Team has earned fifth place at the 2015 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, its highest-ever finish at the competition. The Solar Decathlon was held Oct. 8-18 in Irvine, California. The team’s house, named the Nest Home, was one of fourteen entries in the competition.

This was the sixth time the Missouri S&T team had competed in the Solar Decathlon – more than any other university. The home will now be disassembled and transported back to Rolla, where it will become part of a second neighborhood of solar homes on the Missouri S&T campus.

Teams from around the world, including schools from Germany, Italy and Panama partnering with U.S. universities, competed at the event.

The house was judged by a panel of experts in 10 different categories during the competition. The categories ranged from simple comforts like hot water and working appliances to architecture and marketability. Each category was worth 100 points, with a total of 1,000 points available. The team with the highest cumulative score won the competition. Missouri S&T’s team earned a total of 878.7 points.

Named after the practice of birds that build nests using natural materials, the Nest Home makes use of reclaimed materials. The living area is formed using three repurposed shipping containers and its siding is made from shipping pallet lumber. It is designed for a growing family and features two bedrooms, a home automation system and a charging station for an electric car, all powered by 24 solar panels.

To learn more about Missouri S&T’s Nest Home, visit solarhouse.mst.edu. For more information about the competition, visit solardecathlon.gov.