The course unites students from diverse majors, including civil engineering, architecture, and facilities management, to simulate real-world collaboration. Teams designed scaled models of bridges and towers using materials like balsa wood, PVC, and 3D-printed components. Their creations are then stress-tested to evaluate load distribution, material efficiency, and resistance to failure mechanisms such as buckling, shear stress, and torsion.
“The goal is to transform abstract concepts like moment forces and deflection into tangible lessons,” said Perez, who emphasizes experiential learning. “When a tower they’ve built collapses under weight, students immediately grasp the consequences of poor load calculation or uneven mass distribution.”
One recent project challenged teams to construct a bridge capable of supporting 50 pounds using limited materials. After analyzing failures in initial designs, students iterated improvements, incorporating truss systems, arched supports, and reinforced joints. “You learn faster when your design literally cracks under pressure,” said civil engineering student Jordan Lee. “It pushes us to think like problem-solvers, not just theorists.”
The course also addresses real-world disasters, by looking at case studies on collapses like the 2019 bridge/walkway failure at Florida International University in Miami. Students dissect factors such as material fatigue, design oversights, and maintenance gaps—a foundation for ethical engineering practices.
The FAMU School of Architecture & Engineering Technology, focuses on sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and prepares graduates to address growing demands for climate-adaptive design and safety. As Perez noted, “these students aren’t just building models; they’re learning to safeguard communities.”