Civil engineer students designed a bridge from Lego elements
Budapest, 6 May 2021 Civil engineer students made bridges from several boxes, exactly two thousand pieces of LEGO blocks and the winning bridge could bear more than 60 kilogram. The young talents tested their knowledge at the professional competition of KÉSZ Group, in the final of Hexatlon. The objective of the multi-round competition was to achieve that more and more people see a prospect in the Hungarian construction industry. In particular, the sector has been struggling with capacity and labor shortage and the number of applicants to the construction engineer department has continuously diminished for years.
In the Hexatlon competition the most talented civil engineer students of the country were searched for, where young people could compare their knowledge in several rounds. The applying students had to solve exercises requiring professional knowledge and creativity, among others they had to find and correct the hidden errors in the design drawing. The competition was organized by KÉSZ Group, one of the largest construction companies in Hungary. Construction industry requires succession: labor shortage is considerable that is especially true for civil engineers.
Load capacity, design, innovation
The six competitors who got into Hexatlon's last round had to build a bridge consisting of several boxes, i.e. two thousand pieces of LEGO Technic elements. Of course, beside the design, it was also important that the bridge is constructed with an innovative solution, has the largest load capacity and bridge an exactly 650 millimeter open span. The winning bridge can bear a load of more than 60 kilograms. The Hexatlon competition was won based on the jury's decision by Péter Bányász, a student of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
“We have seen numerous very exciting and interesting solutions and each of the finalist competitors were very clever and prepared. It is a great joy for us how many talented experts we will have in the forthcoming years” - said Árpád Tápai, Deputy CEO of KÉSZ Építő és Szerelő Zrt., the general contracting member company of KÉSZ Group and the member of Hexatlon's jury.
He added: “However, it was Péter Bányász, the winner of the competition who chose alone the special solution for the last exercise that he stood the available flat, disc-like building elements in a vertical position and so created an outstandingly rigid beam-like bridge structure. In addition to the winning idea, the overwhelming success was owing to the schedule kept strict even towards himself. There is no other way in the real life either: beside the novel conceptions, humble and diligent work and strict compliance with deadlines are indispensable for the success.” The main prize of Hexatlon is 2 million forints and an internship possibility in KÉSZ Group. The competitor in the second place received 500 thousand forints and that in the third place 250 thousand forints.
Specialists are needed for sustainable growth
The purpose of the competition is to achieve that more and more people see a perspective in the Hungarian construction industry and more and more young people choose the civil engineering profession. In particular, it is indispensable for permanent growth of the construction industry to ensure that the sector presents a perspective to Hungarian workers and so to young career-starters.
“Construction industry has been struggling capacity and labor shortage for years. This shortage is substantial of engineers, so in particular of civil engineers and the succession is also intermittent. One of the reasons is that the civil engineering faculty is less known among young people. We would like to show that this profession hides in itself plenty of exciting challenges, diversified jobs and opportunities. The graduated students can find very good employment opportunities and competitive salaries. We in KÉSZ Group are always open to young talents and have constantly open positions. We believe that a nice career path can be taken in the Hungarian construction industry” - added Árpád Tápai.
The video of the final is available here: