International Bridge Building Competition

Showcasing Bright Young Minds

The Competition

The bridge building teams consist of three learners each. They build model bridges from dowel sticks, glue and string, according to a technical briefing, and the event culminates in a bridge testing ceremony to determine the winners.

Bridges are tested to destruction to determine their loadbearing capacity

SAICE held its annual International Bridge Building competition on 26 August at the Midrand Conference Centre in Gauteng. Twelve schools participated in the grand finale, which saw great young minds from South Africa and Eswatini showcase talent, teamwork, innovation and design.

SAICE initiated the bridge building competition more than 30 years ago to further high school learners’ use of mathematics and science in an engineering context in order to grow the profession. The competition has therefore been a catalyst for many students to pursue a career in civil engineering.

Owing to its practical and hands-on nature, this event is SAICE’s most successful initiative in attracting learners from previously disadvantaged rural schools, previous model C schools and private schools to civil engineering, as well as promoting a general awareness of the profession.

The bridges, adjudicated by a panel of engineers, are judged according to a system where design, correctness and aesthetics account for 30% of the total score, while the weight of the bridge and its weight carrying capacity make up the remaining score.

Brackenfell High School was the winner of this year’s International Bridge Building Competition. Their team comprised Philip Loubser, Sebastian Hahn, and Anthony Oosthuizen. Their bridge weighed 131.7 g and carried a weight of 164.1 kg.

Hoërskool Jim Fouché followed in second place with team members Yvé Kriel, Mieke Swarts, and Lourens van Niekerk. Their bridge weighed 106.4 g and carried a weight of 76.5 kg.

In third place was Fairvale Secondary School represented by Jamie-Lynn Marnce, Taliyah Goldstone, and Aeden Barlow. Their bridge weighed 108.6 g and carried a weight of 58.3 kg.

Sponsors

SAICE extends its appreciation to the sponsors of the competition to enable a successful event. These include WBHO, BVi Form-Scaff / Waco Engineering Services, RiChem and NRF-SAASTA.

The third place winners from Fairvale Secondary School: Taliyah Goldstone, Aeden Seth Barlow and Jamie-Lynn Marnce

The winning team from Brackenfell High School: Sebastian Hahn, Anthony Oosthuizen and Phillip Loubser

The second place winners from Hoërskool Jim Fouché: Yve Kriel, Lourens van Niekerk and Mieke Swarts