2025 Model Bridge Competition Sponsorship: Click Here
2024 Competition Information Below
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.
The competition is open to high school students and involves building a truss-type or arch-type model bridge out of balsa wood with the parts joined by yellow carpenter’s glue. Each model will be judged on its aesthetics, weighed, and loaded to failure by a testing machine. Model efficiency scores will be computed based on maximum load at failure divided by the model’s weight.
2024 – There will be two parts to the competition. Click Here for more information.
Model Bridge Competition Preregistration Form
Model Catwalk Competition
The competition is open to 7th and 8th grade school students and involves building a truss-type model bridge out of the provided balsa wood with the parts joined by yellow carpenter’s glue. Each model will be judged on its aesthetics, weighed, and loaded to failure by a testing machine. Model efficiency scores will be computed based on maximum load at failure divided by the model’s weight. Click Here for more information. Model Catwalk Competition Preregistration Form
Bridges will be tested on February 3, 2024 – Only the volunteers working on the testing will be admitted, no spectators (Sorry!).
2023 Competitions Watch the Videos: Click Here
Congratulations to our past winners on their achievements! Our Model Bridges are rated on three criteria: Load Carried, Efficiency, and Aesthetics.
| Year | Load Carried (lbs) | Efficiency | Aesthetics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Shaker High School (lbs): 958 | Shaker High School 2.31 | Shaker High School |
| 22 | Shaker (N. Colonie) (lbs): 563 | Shaker (N. Colonie) 2.71 | Rensselaer |
| 21 | Rensselaer (lbs): 283 | Christian Brothers Academy 1.63 | Averill Park |
| 20 | Rensselaer (lbs): 377 | Rensselaer 2.256 | Rensselaer |
| 19 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 371 | Rensselaer Score: 2.45 | Rensselaer |
| 18 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 469 | Rensselaer Score: 3.09 | Ballston Spa |
| 17 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 525 | Rensselaer Score: 5.50 | North Colonie |
| 16 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 341 | Rensselaer Score: 3.76 | Rensselaer |
| 15 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 287 | South Colonie Score: 3.14 | Ballston Spa |
| 14 | South Colonie Load (lbs): 359 | South Colonie Score: 4.19 | Ballston Spa |
| 13 | South Colonie Load (lbs): 312 | South Colonie Score: 2.76 | Rensselaer |
| 12 | South Colonie Load (lbs): 445 | South Colonie Score: 4.42 | Rensselaer |
| 11 | Heatly School Load (lbs): 276 | South Colonie Score: 3.44 | Ballston Spa |
| 10 | South Colonie Load (lbs): 377 | South Colonie Score: 3.71 | Schenectady |
| 08 | South Glens Falls Load (lbs): 238 | Milford Score: 2.27 | South Colonie |
| Year | Load Carried | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | LaSalle Load (lbs): 254.0 | Rensselaer Score: 1.36 |
| 18 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 216.7 | Rensselaer Score: 1.81 |
| 17 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 234.0 | Rensselaer Score: 2.18 |
| 16 | Rensselaer Load (lbs): 152.6 | Rensselaer Score: 1.72 |
| 15 | South Colonie Load (lbs): 182.3 | South Colonie Score: 2.11 |
| 14 | South Colonie Load (lbs): 174.2 | South Colonie Score: 1.83 |
| 13 | 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:
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.