Our Civil Engineering students were recognised at SUCCEED (Singapore Universities Combined Civil Engineering Engagement Day) 2026, taking home three Company Choice Awards. The event brought together 160 students from NUS, NTU, SIT and Singapore Polytechnic to compete in the Floating Tower Challenge, a hands-on test of engineering design, collaboration and industry engagement.
Teams had 90 minutes to design and build a floating structure using limited materials such as ice cream sticks, bottles and rubber bands. The towers were tested under simulated waves and weighted loads, and evaluated on structural efficiency, stability, height, sustainability (using fewer materials) and creativity.
Supported by industry partners, eight companies were present to evaluate the projects and select teams for the Company Choice Awards based on the performance and ingenuity of their designs.
Out of 12 awards, our students clinched three Company Choice Awards:
Door & Rose – selected by Chuan Lim Construction Pte Ltd
Team members: Samuel Chan Guan Xu, Senthilkumar Praveen, Kate Lovelace Layba Agpaoa, Sophia Muhammad Ishak, Clarissa Joyceline Edi Surya
“We chose a triangular base to distribute loads more efficiently, allowing us to use fewer materials while maintaining stability under waves,” Samuel reflected.
Bolts of Duty – selected by Utracon Structural Systems Pte Ltd
Team members: Kaung Khant Zaw, Lin Sheng Hui, Tan Jia Xuan Constance, Tan Yong Yew, Cadence Heah Kai Ru
“We knew height earns points, but stability wins in real-world engineering. So we prioritised strength to ensure our tower stayed afloat under load,” Cadence shared.
Pookie – selected by CPG Corporation
Team members: Tin Chong, Shermaine Kong, Joseph Chai, Joon Hian Lim
“One of our main challenges was achieving stability under both loading and wave simulations while keeping the tower lightweight,” the team shared. “We used a triangular base inspired by the SUCCEED logo to distribute forces efficiently, reinforced critical edges to control sway, and strengthened the top platform for weight placement. Clear role-splitting and quick stability checks throughout the build helped us stay on track under tight time constraints.”
Assoc Prof Ghim Ping Raymond Ong, Deputy Head (Research) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who attended the event, added: “There was lots of fun and engagement with the students who have displayed passion in civil engineering, and with their creativity in preparing their floating structures in the ultimate test of water and waves.”
