The Professional Engineers Ontario - York Chapter Education Committee is organizing an Engineering Design Challenge for grades 7 and 8 students of schools located in York Region.

This year's challenge: Design and build a load-bearing Tower

Location: Bayview Secondary School (10077 Bayview Avenue Richmond Hill, ON L4C 2L4)

Date: ​ Saturday, March 29, 2025

Time: 9:30 a.m - 4:00 p.m (Pizza lunch is provided to student teams)

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/peo-york-chapter-nem-design-challenge-2025-tickets-1236243330079?aff=oddtdtcreator

The focus of this year’s Design Challenge is for students to design and build a load-bearing tower using provided materials: straws, spaghetti, painter’s tape, and string. In teams of 4, students will aim to construct the tallest free-standing structure possible within designated minimum and maximum height constraints. The challenge is to create a structure capable of supporting the heaviest load without causing structural failure.

The performance of the tower will be judged on:

1. Weight and height of the structure
2. Optimized use of material
3. Presentation and articulation of the design.

The design requirements, limitations, and materials will be provided at the start of the challenge.

Students will plan, build, and test their designs on March 29, 2025 using materials provided by York Chapter Professional Engineers Ontario.

• 4 students per team.
• 1 adult representative per team (to provide health and safety supervision, must not contribute to the design or build process).
• Registration is limited to a maximum of 16 teams from schools within York Region.
• Teams are encouraged to dress in a creative team uniform that is cohesive across the team
• Prizes for the top 6 teams and best dressed team. Grand prize is AirPod 2.
• Please read the consent form before registration. By registering for the Design Challenge, you agree to the terms of the consent form.
• Registration closes on Sunday March 23rd at 8:00 p.m or when all tickets are sold out, whichever comes first.

Where is the competition?

Bayview Secondary School

10077 Bayview Avenue Richmond Hill, ON L4C 2L4