Over 30 teams from universities across the US and around the world will be competing in the SDC. Each team has designed a complex tall building model made from balsa wood that will be tested on a shaking table. Student teams are judged on their oral design presentation, summary poster, model’s architectural design, ability to fit within the design criteria and constraints, analytical prediction of their model performance, and response of their model during shaking table testing.

• Promote the study of earthquake engineering among undergraduate students.
• Provide civil engineering undergraduate students with an opportunity to work on a hands-on project designing and constructing a cost-effective frame building to resist seismic loading.
• Promote EERI activities among civil engineering students and the general public, and encourage international participation in these activities.