When twice the number of people expected showed up to take Civil Service tests at Farnsworth Middle School, the overflow parked in frozen fields that thawed as the day warmed.

Lan-Chi Vo a Farnsworth Middle School student, talks about “Vert Avenir,” which she and her schoolmates designed for the annual Future City competition, held this year at Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady. Vert Avenir placed fifth in Saturday’s competition.