Bridge Construction Challenge

Bridges are one of architecture’s most wonderful typologies. They can be a wonderful example of beauty and simplicity, of engineering efficiency that leads to extraordinary experience. There are many different types of bridge engineering and material techniques. Below are a few for reference.

For this challenge, see if you can build a bridge (for Hotwheels or rolling LEGO autos, etc.) using extra material you have around the house. Items such as chopsticks, pop cycle sticks, cardboard, toothpicks are good ones. But it can be anything. For connections, superglue, white glue, paper clips or even duct tape can be great. But use whatever you have in the house during this interesting quarantine - like Play Doh or even marshmallows.

HERE is a helpful wikiHow page for reference. HERE is a lesson you could do with younger students, or if you would like a more advanced engineering lesson for older students, HERE is a great resource with downloadable lesson plan.

Who can build the bridge using materials around the house to create the longest span?

You get extra points for engineering innovations, sustainable recycled materials, as well as aesthetics.

Below are some examples from various projects. We will be posting ours here as soon as we finish (in the next few days). Please send us photos of yours along with descriptions of the ideas, materials and names of the makers and I will post here!

Miles used chop sticks, string, duct tape, paper, balsa wood and hot glue to create this double span suspension bridge.

And Owen chose to incorporate a Jeff Koons inspired sculpture into his suspension bridge in the form of a dog balloon.

Evan created a material efficient approach called a Box Beam. It includes some ROI-friendly advertising and a control tower to manage the the single lane can function as a two-way with AVs.

And I built a truss bridge. It sounded simple enough, but because I didn’t measure anything, it got sloppy pretty quick. But I did win for longest bridge - so that was pretty exciting.

And here are some other examples.