Confederation College release
THUNDER BAY – Confederation College students in the Civil Engineering Technology program had the opportunity to test their skills in a Bridge Design-Build Competition on Monday.
Part of a hands-on learning experience in their Construction Management course, student teams were given a design-build package, complete with a contract and limited resources, to construct the lightest bridge possible that can support the most weight.
Each bridge was tested to the point of failure with the winning team moving onto a similar competition at the 59th Annual Fall Workshop of the Municipal Engineers Association being held in Thunder Bay in late November.
The winning team was made up of the following students: Chris Zysko, Paul Zysko and Trenton Woodbeck with a bridge that held 54 kilograms.
Aside from the fun of the competition, students found it to be a great way to utilize the knowledge gained since their first day in the program.
“Starting from first year we learned the basics of design, the fundamentals of the mathematics of bridges and how to use AutoCAD software,” said third-year student Christian Palmquist. “We applied all of that in this competition.”
Fellow student Haley Leclair highlighted that for her, this course taught her the importance of reading and understanding a contract.
“In other classes, we were just told what’s in the contract, but actually having to read one and figure out what was needed in order to fulfill it, has given me a better understanding that I can take with me into the workforce,” she said.
With points being awarded for bridge appearance, build time, cost and load-bearing ability, Leclair reflected on her team’s chances for a win prior to the competition.
“I think my bridge will do well in the looks part of the competition, but I’m not as confident about the weight-bearing part,” she said. “I guess time will tell.”
The importance of bridge aesthetics is not lost on Raquel Glavish, P.Eng., Interim Program Coordinator.
“I fell in love with Civil Engineering because of bridges,” Glavish said. “I remember being six years old driving over the Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal, feeling as if I was flying through the air. My love for bridges grew as I realized their impact on society and how they connect people. With many beautiful lakes and creeks in northwestern Ontario, the use of bridges are critical to unite our communities.”
Working with bridges represents just one example of many experiences students can expect to have in the program. “The Civil Engineering program and career both provide a varied and challenging environment, leading to all sorts of exciting opportunities for graduates,” said Glavish.
Applications are now being accepted for the revamped 2-year Civil Engineering Technician program beginning in September 2019. For more information and to apply, visit: www.confederationcollege.ca/civil-technician.
