U of T student team sets load record at Troitsky Bridge Building Competition

A team of University of Toronto students has set a new competition record for ultimate load at the 2026 Troitsky Bridge Building Competition. 

The largest bridge-building competition in Canada, the Troitsky Bridge Building Competition invites teams to design and build a model bridge using only popsicle sticks, toothpicks, dental floss and white glue. It began in 1984 as a class project by Professor Michael S. Troitsky at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University).

The U of T team's entry, dubbed the "Unbreakable Bridge," achieved an ultimate load of nearly 4,900 kg, eclipsing the previous record by 1,200 kg. The team also took the top prize for structural efficiency. 

"We predicted 4,000 kg and we got 4,900 kg so we surpassed that," said team captain Saeed Abdi, a fourth-year civil engineering student. 

The team includes students from non-engineering disciplines, including architecture and political science. "A friend a year above me was involved in the club, then I started participating – and now, I'm actually a design executive in the club," said Vicky Yan, a fourth-year architecture student. "I think it’s a great competition to practice both hands-on building and design skills.”

In addition to Abdi and Yan, the team comprised Ian Chen (political science), Jacky Shen (computer science), Hayden Wong (architecture), Evie Xu (civil engineering) and David Xu (electrical and computer engineering). Aryan Rezaei Rad, an assistant professor of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, acted as faculty advisor.

Read the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering story

Visit the U of T Troitsky Bridge Building Team site