Impressive ultimate load of almost 4,900 kg sets new record for student bridge-building event.
A University of Toronto team set a new competition record for ultimate load at the 2026 Troitsky Bridge Building Competition en route to earning a second-place finish overall. With an impressive ultimate load of almost 4,900 kg, eclipsing the previous all-time record of 3,700 kg, the team missed out on a first-place overall finish by a mere single point.
Officially carrying a load of 4,889 kg until it failed, the bridge was designed and expected to perform very well. “We predicted 4,000 kg, and we got 4,900 kg, so we surpassed that. Excellent. I did, however, design the bridge for 5,000 kg,” says team captain Saeed Abdi (Year 4 CivE).
The previous record of 3,700 kg, set by McMaster in 2018, was surpassed by almost 1,200 kg – more than a 30% greater load – making this result a substantial refinement. Besides emerging victorious with the ultimate load, the entry won for structural efficiency.
Held annually at Concordia University in Montreal since 1984, this year’s event attracted 31 teams from 10 Canadian universities, with over 220 student competitors over the February 27 – March 1 weekend.
U of T fielded four team, with each constructing a bridge model made of only popsicle sticks, toothpicks, white glue and dental floss. Testing was performed of each entry’s strength using a hydraulic press in front of a lively, cheering audience.
The team’s entry, called “The Unbreakable Bridge”, was first partially prefabricated and transported to Montreal. There, the team held a three-hour assembly period, prior to measurements being taken and a presentation to a judging panel of industry professionals. The ultimate test is the final step, crushing each team’s entry.
Abdi credits CivMin Professor Aryan Rezaei Rad (aka Professor Rad) who acted as faculty advisor, lending his expertise in timber construction. “He’s the wood professor of mine. I take his course and really enjoy it so far – he’s taught me a lot. I went to him to discuss some design concepts and ideas, and he instructed me quite well during the process, so appreciate all his help.”
The seven team members are a mix of students from the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, as well as from Arts & Science. Explaining the broad appeal to those outside of Engineering, Vicky Tan (Year 4 Arch) says, “I actually got involved a couple years ago, starting in second year. A friend a year above me was involved in the club, then I started participating. And now, in my fourth year, I’m actually a design executive from the club. I think it’s a great competition to practice both hands-on building and design skills.”
Team members:
Saeed Abdi (Captain, Year 4 CivE)
Ian Chen (Year 4 PoliSci)
Jacky Shen (Year 4 CompSci)
Hayden Wong (Year 4 Arch)
Evie Xu (Year 1 CivE)
David Xu (Year 4 ElecE)
Vicky Yan (Year 4 Arch)
The club is already recruiting for next year and is open to students from all programs and faculties. The UofT Troitsky Website is: https://troitsky.skule.ca/