Bridge Building Challenge: First Year Students Explore Structures of Storytelling

By: students Lilah Brandt, Jithara Gallage, and Ash Panicker

July 02, 2025

Ever wonder how practical structural concepts could come together with creativity and design to tell a story?

Introducing: the Bridge Building Challenge, part of a first year structures course taken by Architectural Science students at Toronto Metropolitan University. Consisting primarily of mathematical and physics-centered learning, the course culminated with a creative capstone challenge to translate practical learning into a memorable video.

Instructor Javeriya Hasan, a 2024 graduate of DAS’s PhD in Building Science, intended the Bridge Building Challenge as an opportunity for students to experience structures not just technically, but through a human-centered lens: “The project encouraged exploration of concepts like load distribution and failure through hands-on making, where students had the freedom to choose their design, materials, and test ideas.”

The brief had five components: research and design; materials and construction; load testing and observation; failure analysis; and reflection. Groups began by studying different bridge types to understand their strengths and weaknesses. They decided on a bridge type to test, created design sketches for construction, then tested their scaled bridges until failure, analyzing the design for flaws for future improvements.

The documentary video requirement ignited the imagination of students. As Hasan notes, “It was all about storytelling, capturing the bridge-building journey and weaving individual reflections into every phase. One way for students to truly grasp the subject was by allowing them to express themselves and engage deeply with both the subject material and each other.”

Students took different approaches: some recording their process in a documentary style, others creating stories or skits with their collected research. Teams were encouraged to get creative with their videos. The results – ranging from mockumentary reality shows to rap music videos – did not disappoint.

“We often talk about how rhythm and balance are incorporated into the built world, so it was super fun to explore these concepts through dance and rap,” explains Lilah Brandt, a first year student and member of “The Suspicious Six”, whose music video “Truss Us” describes the benefits and drawbacks of seven different types of bridges, and features many popular spots in downtown Toronto, near TMU’s campus.

Jithara Gallage, another “Truss Us” team member, states “Learning structures helps us understand the integrity of architecture. We wanted to show how bridges were all around us by filming across campus and including local landmarks that are often overlooked.”

At the end of the semester, students gathered in the cineplex-classroom to celebrate their projects on the big screen. In the words of Architectural Science student Ash Panicker, “I can honestly say that this project was one of the highlights of the semester. There were so many opportunities to be creative in every step of the process, and working as a team to tell a story allowed me to document so many lasting memories with friends.”