The Young Members Group recently partnered with the Seismology Committee to host a Gingerbread House Competition for students and young professionals at Thornton Tomasetti’s San Francisco office.
The event brought together participants from Stanford University, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and local engineering firms for an evening of friendly competition and hands on learning. Teams of four were challenged to design and construct the tallest possible gingerbread structure before putting their creations to the ultimate test on a shake table.
More than 50 people attended the event, including over 20 students, making it a great opportunity for networking, mentorship, and introducing future engineers to concepts of structural dynamics and seismic design in a fun and engaging environment.
The competition showcased creativity, teamwork, and engineering problem solving while strengthening connections between students and practicing professionals. Events like this help foster interest in structural engineering and create meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the engineering community outside the classroom.
We encourage other SEA organizations to consider hosting similar hands on events this holiday season. Whether through design competitions, shake table demonstrations, or networking activities, these programs provide valuable exposure to the profession while helping build the next generation of structural engineers.