Model Bridge Competition (Grades 9 and up)

2023 Competitions Watch the Videos: Click Here

The Model Bridge Competition (MBC) has been a tradition at the Capital District celebration of National Engineers Week, encouraging future engineers, since 1983! Over 100 high school students from around the region are expected to participate each year.

Students in Grades 9-12 build a balsa wood arch or truss type bridge. Each model is judged on its aesthetics (design and craftsmanship) and is then weighed, measured, and loaded to failure by a testing machine.

The models are 400 mm long, no greater than 100 mm wide and 200 mm high. Model efficiency scores are computed based upon maximum load at failure divided by the weight of the model.

Previous Winners

Congratulations to our past winners on their achievements! Our Model Bridges are rated on three criteria: Load Carried, Efficiency, and Aesthetics.

Individual Student Results

Year	Load Carried (lbs)	Efficiency	Aesthetics
2019	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 371	Rensselaer Score: 2.45	Rensselaer
2018	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 469	Rensselaer Score: 3.09	Ballston Spa
2017	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 525	Rensselaer Score: 5.50	North Colonie
2016	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 341	Rensselaer Score: 3.76	Rensselaer
2015	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 287	South Colonie Score: 3.14	Ballston Spa
2014	South Colonie Load (lbs): 359	South Colonie Score: 4.19	Ballston Spa
2013	South Colonie Load (lbs): 312	South Colonie Score: 2.76	Rensselaer
2012	South Colonie Load (lbs): 445	South Colonie Score: 4.42	Rensselaer
2011	Heatly School Load (lbs): 276	South Colonie Score: 3.44	Ballston Spa
2010	South Colonie Load (lbs): 377	South Colonie Score: 3.71	Schenectady
2009	South Colonie Load (lbs): 281	South Colonie Score: 4.06	South Glens Falls
2008	South Glens Falls Load (lbs): 238	Milford Score: 2.27	South Colonie
2007	Troy Load (lbs): 238	South Colonie Score: 5.71	South Glens Falls

Highest Average Student Results per School

Year	Load Carried	Efficiency
2019	LaSalle Load (lbs): 254.0	Rensselaer Score: 1.36
2018	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 216.7	Rensselaer Score: 1.81
2017	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 234.0	Rensselaer Score: 2.18
2016	Rensselaer Load (lbs): 152.6	Rensselaer Score: 1.72
2015	South Colonie Load (lbs): 182.3	South Colonie Score: 2.11
2014	South Colonie Load (lbs): 174.2	South Colonie Score: 1.83
2013	Ticonderoga Load (lbs): 169.0	South Colonie Score: 1.65

This competition is possible thanks to funding from proceeds from the Capital District celebration of National Engineers Week, donations of equipment and supplies, and the efforts of many dedicated volunteers. The following organizations sponsor the competition by providing volunteers, funding, equipment, and/or supplies:

Foundation for Engineering Education (lead organization for the Capital District celebration of National Engineers Week).
Structural Engineering Institute of the Mohawk-Hudson Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Eastern New York Chapter of the Association for Bridge Construction and Design.
New York State Department of Transportation.
Advanced Manufacturing Techniques, Inc.
Student volunteers from Hudson Valley Community College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

This competition is also possible thanks to the participation of our region’s schools and the interest and encouragement provided by the teachers at these schools.

Photo Gallery

Prizes

Cash prizes are awarded to students for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place efficiency scores, load capacity, and aesthetics. Cash prizes are also awarded to the schools whose students have the highest average efficiency and load capacity per student.

Date & Time

During the 2023 Engineers’ Week Celebration

Why participate?

An opportunity to try out your design and model-building skills and learn about engineering in the process. You will see first-hand how your bridge “measures-up” against those of other students and then you will find yourself holding your breath until your model sounds its first CRACK! under the force applied by the testing machine. You will meet real engineers and have fun during the entire competition!