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2025 Student Model Bridge Building Competition

2025 marks the 36th year the Student Model Bridge Building Competition (SMBBC) provides southern Nevada high school-, middle school- and elementary school-aged students with the opportunity to test their engineering skills through a competition of innovation and craftsmanship. Students are tasked to construct a bass-wood bridge structure within predefined specifications for their competition level. The highest performing bridges are determined through an efficiency metric to identify a bridge that was able to support the heaviest load while be constructed using the fewest materials.

The 2025 competition will operate in its normal capacity of FULL ATTENDANCE at the UNLV College of Engineering.

However, we ask that any person who is not feeling well to have respect for other people’s safety and to not attend the competition.

When is the competition?  The competition will be at the UNLV College of Engineering on Saturday March 1, 2025.

How can I pick up bridge kits?  If you are interested in participating in the 2025 Model Bridge Building Competition please register you school by filling out the Participation Form and chose a pick-up site from the listed contacts to make arrangements to receive a bride kit. Any additional school registration questions can be directed to Tanner Hartranft at thartranft@dcsnv.com.

Will there be a Teachers Workshop? The Planning Committee is committed to providing as much insight into the competition as possible. There will be a Teachers Workshop at UNLV on January 15, 2025 from 4:30-6:00pm

Rules and Specifications

2025 ES Rules
2025 MS Rules
2025 HS Rules

Registration

Register your school by filling out and returning a Participation Form
when you pick-up your bridge kits.

Register your individual students electronically
by using the registration link below:
Student Registration Link

Competition

UNLV College of Engineering (TBE-B)
March 1, 2025

Teachers Workshop

UNLV College of Engineering (TBE B-174)
January 15, 2025
4:30-6:00 pm

Testing Day Documents

2025 Rules/Specifications
ES Rules
MS Rules
HS Rules

Injury Waiver

Permission for Photography

UNLV Campus Map

Resources

2023 Teachers Workshop Presentation

Bridge Building Tips

Grid Paper

Bride-kit Pickup Site Map

 

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