2023 Southern California Gingerbread Challenge (Blog 3)

The Structural Engineer's Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) participated in the 2023 Southern California Gingerbread Challenge. For this challenge, the participants built gingerbread structures that could withstand a seismic table (Read more here). My two favorite structures from the challenge are the Bite-Sized Grand and the Burrow. These gingerbread buildings required intensive planning and design for accuracy and structural stability. These characteristics show the skill and dedication of the participants. If I were on the building committee, I would choose to build the Pentagon because it is a recognizable building and it would be a stable design. The Pentagon is wide and symmetrical, so it would not fall over easily. To ensure stability, I would include gummy bears in the foundation to mimic the springs found in earthquake-resistant buildings.