WHO WE ARE
Leaders in Student-Led Innovation
For 25 years, UBC Steel Bridge has been the representative design team for the University of British Columbia at various international steel bridge competitions and public engineering outreach events. The competitions challenge university students to design and fabricate a 1:10 scale steel bridge according to different design constraints each year.
As a student-run team, we offer our members the opportunity to obtain a well-rounded experience that simulates industry operations. Our members learn:
Structural design
Structural modeling and optimization
Construction and project management
Steel fabrication
Our primary goal is to design a bridge that is structurally efficient with optimal weight, stiffness, and constructibility. This enables the promotion of student-led innovation and design, equipping future leaders and engineers from Canada’s top Civil Engineering program with the skills they need to face an increasingly demanding industry.
WHAT WE DO
Our members will go on to Design the World’s Next Bridges
Each year, we design, fabricate, and construct a steel bridge defined by unique competition rules.
Our team proudly represented UBC at the 2024 Canadian National Steel Bridge Competition (CNSBC) in Québec City. We're excited to announce that our dedication to innovation was recognized with the prestigious Innovation of the Year Award!
While the final results placed us fourth in Lightness and Economy and fifth in Construction Speed and Oral Presentation, we encountered valuable challenges throughout the competition. These experiences provided our team with an incredible opportunity to showcase their resilience and adaptability.
In true problem-solving spirit, our team wasted no time after the awards banquet in analyzing their performance and brainstorming improvements. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and enthusiasm our members have poured into this project. Their commitment to excellence is a testament to the valuable learning experiences provided by these in-person competition.
For an impressive third year in a row, our team secured first place in the CNSBC video category! This exciting achievement is a reflection of our team's well-rounded skill set, encompassing not just engineering but also communication and storytelling.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support, which enabled 20 of our members to participate at CNSBC this year. We look forward to building upon this experience and achieving even greater success at our upcoming Nationals competition!
A Tradition of Excellence;
for 25 Years
We have been designing, drafting, fabrication and construction 23’ model steel bridges since 1999.
We have taken our team to competitions across the world.
SPONSOR TESTIMONIAL
Matthew Sauer - Altair S-FRAME - Manger of Global Technical Team
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with UBC Steel Bridge Team since I started doing so, nearly a decade ago. The team is very ambitious, capable, and professional beyond their years. It is really exciting to see how each edition of the team continues to improve. I always look forward to speaking/working with the team during the tutorial sessions, and I am continuously amazed at how much they know about structural analysis, and S-FRAME. I am proud to be associated with this Steel Bridge team, as they are great ambassadors for the University, the city, and for the sponsors.”
Ian Kerr - EllisDon - Senior Vice President of Western Market Development
“The young, inquisitive aspirational mindset is always refreshing to me, and students who can demonstrate a balance between critical thinking against an open and curious mindset are often the ones I find most impressive. We support a number of student organizations and recognize the valuable role that Engineers play in the construction industry. Supporting academic programs will only help to improve the quality of education and experience students gain, which will in turn help our industry grow. ”
LEARN MORE
Ready to work together?
Whether you are an industry professional looking to support education or a student looking to take the next step in your degree, we want to hear from you!