Finalists have been officially announced for the 2025 West Virginia Bridge Design and Build contest. Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) for over 25 years, this STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educational outreach program focuses on real-world engineering principles to inspire and recruit tomorrow’s professionals.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, March 28, 2025, and Saturday, March 29, 2025 |
| Location | WVU Institute of Technology Campus (Beckley) |
| Finalists | 26 high school teams and 9 middle school teams (the top 35 overall) |
| Total Initial Entries | 116 teams submitted a total of 462 structural designs |
Competition Mechanics
To advance to the final round, students (competing individually or in pairs) used the Engineering Encounters Bridge Designer 2025 software to engineer a bridge capable of safely supporting a truck at the lowest possible construction cost. During the upcoming state finals, students will compete in two main events:
- Software Design Challenge: A timed structural design activity utilizing the bridge software.
- Balsa Wood Bridge Test: Testing the ultimate strength-to-weight ratio of physical bridges. (Balsa wood building kits will be mailed out to finalists within the next two weeks, and students will bring their completed bridges to the live competition).
To view the official final standings, visit the 2025 Bridge Design and Build Leaderboard.
2025 Finalist Schools
High School Division (26 Teams)
- Greenbrier East High School (Greenbrier County) – 7 teams
- Pikeview High School (Mercer County) – 5 teams
- Princeton Senior High School (Mercer County) – 3 teams
- Morgantown High School (Monongalia County) – 3 teams
- Gilmer County High School (Gilmer County) – 2 teams
- Oak Hill High School (Fayette County) – 2 teams
- Putnam Career and Technical Center (Putnam County) – 2 teams
- East Fairmont High School (Marion County) – 1 team
- Winfield High School (Putnam County) – 1 team
Middle School Division (9 Teams)
- Eastern Greenbrier Middle School (Greenbrier County) – 3 teams
- Suncrest Middle School (Monongalia County) – 2 teams
- Park Middle School (Raleigh County) – 1 team
- John Adams Middle School (Kanawha County) – 1 team
- Andrew Jackson Middle School (Kanawha County) – 1 team
- Mountain Ridge Middle School (Berkeley County) – 1 team
