Timber-Strong Design Build Competition at NCSEA Summit
In partnership with the American Wood Council, Simpson Strong-Tie, and APA–The Engineered Wood Association, NCSEA brought the Timber-Strong Design Build SM Competition to the 2019 Summit in Anaheim, California. This “hands-on” competition, designed for university engineering students, provided a real-world experience in both planning and building a wooden structure within a team environment.

Student teams were required to submit the design of their structure along with a report that calculated the carbon footprint of the structure as well as the cost of materials. The building portion took place on November 12th at the Disneyland® Hotel where six teams competed to build a two-story wood structure within 90 minutes. The six teams represented schools from four states: California (California State University-Sacramento, University of California-Los Angeles, and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo,), Kentucky (University of Kentucky), Minnesota (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities), and Florida (University of South Florida).

As volunteers taped off the parking lot indicating where each school would be doing their build, the students arrived with their pre-fabricated panels, tools, and safety equipment ready to compete. The teams were not only required to keep their builds within the 90-minute time frame, but they were also required to keep all materials within a given area while they completed their structure. Structural engineer judges observed and scored aspects of the build while additional volunteers keep an even closer watch on the students’ safety as well as their correct use of tools and equipment. Once time was called, a verbal presentation was made by each team which included a display board to reference aspects of their design and build.
The winners were:
  • 1st Place: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
  • 2nd Place: University of California, Los Angeles
  • 3rd Place: University of Kentucky

Teams were responsible for the deconstruction and removal of the structures, but with an added opportunity: schools were given the option to donate their structure to the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California (CCFSC). In turn, the CCFSC would give it to one of their patient’s families to be reassembled in their backyard. Three schools donated their creations. As a special highlight of the day, a young patient and her family attended the build, and she was able to choose which structure would be reassembled in her backyard, courtesy of the support of Simpson Strong-Tie employees. As a memento of the young patient’s attendance at the event, NCSEA gave a hardhat with the Council’s logo as a remembrance of the day.
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Upcoming Events
January 23, 2020
Investigation and Repair of Wood Structures
Chicago, IL

February 4, 2020
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February 20, 2020
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Springfield, IL

February 25, 2020
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February 27-28, 2020
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2020 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards
NCSEA's Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards annually highlights some of the best examples of structural engineering ingenuity throughout the world. Projects are judged on innovative design, engineering achievement, and creativity. Multiple winners are presented in eight categories with an outstanding winner chosen from each category. The winners will be honored at NCSEA's Structural Engineering Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada this November.
The awards are presented in the following categories:
  • New Buildings < $30 Million
  • New Buildings $30 Million to $80 Million
  • New Buildings $80 Million to $200 Million
  • New Buildings Over $200 Million
  • New Bridges or Transportation Structures
  • Forensic/Renovation/Retrofit/Rehabilitation Structures < $20 Million
  • Forensic/Renovation/Retrofit/Rehabilitation Structures > $20 Million
  • Other Structures

Entries are due on July 14, 2020. Structural engineers and structural engineering firms are encouraged to enter. More information about the awards along with submission instructions can be found here.
SEAC's Annual Gingerbread Bridge Competition
The Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC) held their annual Gingerbread Bridge Competition at the end of 2019. This year's Gingerbread Bridge Competition drew 16 teams of architects, engineers, contractors, and students this year. Teams ranging from middle-schoolers to practicing professionals created their bridges ahead of time and brought them to Dry Dock Brewing Co. to be judged in the categories of Architectural Design, Structural Design, and People’s Choice. The Structural Design rankings are based on the ratio of the total load capacity to bridge weight. Proceeds from the event go to charities designated by first-place teams. Check out the winning bridges here .
Prepare for the Upcoming PE Structural Exam with NCSEA
NCSEA's SE Review & Refresher Course is completely on-demand. Review course materials and watch the recordings when it is convenient for YOU for an entire year. This NCEES PE Structural Exam Prep Course allows you to study at your pace but with instant access to the material and instructors. All lectures are up-to-date on the most current codes.
Registrants of this course also receive access to the SE Review Virtual Classroom, which provides an online chat room for course discussion with all the instructors and the students.
Individual and group pricing is available! Click here to learn more.
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Upcoming Webinars
All NCSEA live webinars, listed below, offer 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. Most NCSEA webinars are Diamond Reviewed and accepted for SE continuing education in all 50 states. Please review the webinar description to check the Diamond Review Status. To view other upcoming webinars, click here.
Februa ry 20, 2020
Basics of Strut and Tie Modeling
Royce Floyd, Ph.D., S.E.

February 25, 2020
ASCE 7 - 16 Wind Load Provisions - Changes Effecting the Current Design Practice
Donald R. Scott, S.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE
March 10, 2020
Masonry Movement Joints
Sam Rubenzer, S.E.

March 24, 2020
Lintels for Masonry Walls
Sam Rubenzer, P.E., S.E

Recorded Webinars can be purchased here.
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