Fall 1997

Quick construction time boosts bridge team’s finish

Bolstered by a second-place finish in construction time, a team of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology civil engineering students finished 19th out of 40 teams in this year’s American Society of Civil Engineers National Steel Bridge Competition on May 23-24 in Pomona, Calif.

Rose-Hulman’s bridge had 37 pieces, was five feet tall, spanned 20 feet, weighed 141 pounds and took just two minutes and 20 seconds for the four-man crew to construct.

The team’s performance was a tribute to faculty adviser Cecil Lobo, who died after 31 years of service to the civil engineering department and Rose-Hulman students.

Ryan Seavert was the project’s team leader. Members of the construction crew were Pete Haug, George Lewis IV, Eric Panhorst and Tim Wuestefeld. Professor Tom Descoteaux accompanied the team to the national contest.

Ted Hazledine and employees of Benchmark Metal Products of Terre Haute provided technical and financial assistance.