AMES, Iowa — How well can a student-made bridge withstand 2,500 pounds? 43 college engineering groups from across the country are all gathered at Iowa State for the Student Steel Bridge Competition to find out.

The Student Steel Bridge Competition was founded in Michigan in 1987 and eventually grew into a national competition that hosts engineering students and companies from around the world. The American Institute of Steel Construction, AISC, says it’s a way for students to turn ideas into infrastructure.

“They’re designing something on paper or on the computer, but then actually getting to put together the pieces and get to see how things fit up, how things interact. They get to also experience how a bridge and the structure performs under real-world loads,” said Christi Stattler, AISC Education Manager.

Following strict competition regulations, student groups must design, fabricate, and build a 20-foot bridge able to withstand 2,500 pounds. During the timed finale, students are judged on speed of construction, estimated cost, aesthetics, and durability.

Iowa State is hosting the competition this year, so their 25-student group had to build a bridge and plan the competition. The group says they’re excited to see a year’s worth of work come to a close.

“We have a design team that goes in and designs the entire bridge. We use experience like from past years and then we go to these competitions and it’s a great time to look around and get new ideas,” said Iowa State Senior, Sydney Hyzy. “Then our fabrication team, then works with design later, and then they are the ones that are cutting steel, welding it all together, making the bridge.”

“For engineers, this is like the Friday Night Lights,” said Carson Fischer, 2025 Iowa State graduate. “It’s like the big, big moment to show exactly what you’ve done. Show all these other schools how good you are, how big your club is and it’s a lot of pressure on the guys and gals’ abilities, and they step up.”

Iowa State will kick off the finals Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Lied Recreation Center.