2009 Engineering Bridge Competition

Posted April 16, 2009

2009 Champion Bridge

Hundreds of Oakland Tech students, staff and families assembled in the Engineering Academy again on April 15th, 2009, to witness the (at least) 15th Annual Bridge Competition. More than 80 Engineering Academy students looked on as their creations collapsed, crumbled and exploded to the thunderous ovation of the standing room only crowd.

Each bridge builder or team received the exact same materials (strips of balsa wood of various width and length, and Elmer’s glue), and were required to design and build their bridge to a specific set of standards and specifications.

This year’s winning entry, an amazing combination of form and function, was able to support nearly 100 lbs. of sand . . . and refused to break!

Special thanks to John Bliss and the American Society of Civil Engineers who provided bridge materials and pizza, and took time to serve as judges for the competition.

And congratulations to the champions and all of this year’s Engineering Academy bridge competition participants!