Decks are stacked in a different sort of card tournament

Kirk Baird

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001 | 10:04 a.m.

Fast Facts

What: House of Cards 2001 tournament.

When: 10 a.m. today.

Where: Food court area in the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson.

Cost: Free.

Information: 339-7720.

When it comes to the House of Cards 2001 contest, forget the bad puns -- such as "it's all in the cards" -- this event is serious business.

The event, which begins at 10 a.m. today in the food court of the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson, is expected to draw more than 225 Las Vegas junior high and high school students, all divided into teams -- usually in fives -- representing their respective schools.

The tournament is sponsored by the Associated General Contractors (AGC), Las Vegas Chapter, a nonprofit association for contractors and construction-related firms.

Each student group has two hours to construct a work made entirely of playing cards and drafting dots, which are small adhesive circles, similar to masking tape, to keep the cards together.

The idea is to build an original piece in that time, with an emphasis on creativity.

"(The AGC) provides the vehicle for the kids; all they have to have is an imagination," said John Lawrence, the drafting and architecture teacher at Green Valley High School.

The idea for the event came about through the AGC and its UNLV student chapter, which was looking to find ways to increase awareness of the construction industry as a profession among high school students.

So in 1995 the tournament was created, with about six schools participating. As word about the event spread, more schools signed up. Last year 32 schools joined, with this year's contest expected to draw even more.

Lawrence, who has entered the contest since its inception, said from what he's observed the tournament is a lot of fun for the students. That's why he's had no trouble putting together at least one team every year.

In fact, in many cases once students participate, they often continue until they graduate.

For example, one group first entered when all were sophomores, placing third in the event. The following year, when everyone in the group was a junior, they did well again, but still no top prize.

It wasn't until last year, when the team created a sailboat and lighthouse piece, featuring a small light bulb inside, that the group won first place.

"They didn't even practice," Lawrence said. "They just talked about it and showed up and did it."

Which is the same strategy his team, one of three from Green Valley High, is taking this year.

Composed of juniors, this is the second year the five-man team has participated in the House of Cards tournament. And this time they are looking for better results.

"I thought ours was good," David Keenan, 17, said of the group's entry last year, a cargo plane. "It should have placed second."

But this year they're looking to be more local, replicating the Stratosphere Tower in card form.

Although the group has not officially practiced creating the structure, Keenan said he and another group member assembled a test tower to see how it looked.

Confident of his chances, he said the practice piece turned out "pretty good. But we're looking to make it bigger."

Chuck Darling Sr., past president and lifetime director of the AGC, said the opportunity for the students to creatively shine is important.

"They build stadiums, ships and airplanes -- you name it," said Darling, who has attended every tournament. "You can tell they've spent a lot of time in bringing these things to the table."

Out of all the creations he has seen, Darling said he had no particular favorite -- although he was impressed with an F-27 fighter a student made by himself.

"Those kids can really get creative in what they can do with five decks of cards," he said. "Every year is a surprise, at least to me."