Name ___________________________ Date ___________________ Period _______
Design Brief: Earthquake-Safe Building Design Challenge
Background: Earthquakes are just one reminder that Earth’s tectonic plates are constantly moving. The
shaking can cause buildings to collapse resulting in the loss of possessions, loss of places where people
live and work, and even the loss of life. How can humans be proactive in protecting ourselves from the
effects of an earthquake?
Challenge: The San Francisco Art Society wants to build a brand-new youth art center for the city. You
are a world-renowned architect, and the art society wants to hire YOU to build the youth art
center! However, you have never been faced with the challenge of building a structure in such a
seismically active area. You will need to research techniques used to build an earthquake-safe structure,
design and build a model of the youth center, and put your model to the test in a simulated
earthquake! Since the building will be used for art classes, you may be as creative as you like with the
shape and design of the building (it does not need to be box shaped). Will your design hold up against the
seriously seismic P-waves, S-waves, and surface waves?
Criteria (requirements):
An innovative design must:
 have 2-4 stories
 be at least 30 cm tall
 each story must have a floor & the
building must have a roof
 contain a base isolation system
 base isolation must be 1-4 cm thick
 anchoring straps must be able to
crisscross over the foundation to
keep the building attached to the
shake table (test using 2 rulers
during construction)
Materials





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1 bag of mini-marshmallows
(10.5 ounces)
500 toothpicks
(2 boxes – 250 in each box)
1 meter of string
1 meter of masking tape
20 index cards
1 sponge
Constraints (limits):

Base foundation must be no larger
than the size of a piece of paper.

You must be able to see the
infrastructure of the building, only
two of the four walls may be
closed (ie. shear walls)

Construction will take place
IN-CLASS ONLY

Construction must be completed
within the timeframe provided
Tools/Machines (provided by teacher):

Rulers

Scissors
(Measure twice. Cut once!)

Shake table with anchoring straps
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________ Period _______
Earthquake-Safe Building Design Challenge: Getting to Know the Problem
Describe the challenge you are working to solve.
Research
1. Use the websites specified on Google site and/or Google Classroom to investigate how buildings
are designed to withstand different stresses.
2. Respond to the “Guiding Questions” that follow to direct your research using words and phrases.
3. After completing your research, discuss with your group your findings.
Guiding Questions
1. What causes earthquakes?
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2. Where are earthquakes most common? Explain why earthquakes occur in these locations.
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Getting to Know the Problem (continued)
Research at least three different building features that help a building withstand earthquake
damage.
1. Earthquake resistant building feature: ________base isolator___________________________
Describe or sketch this feature:
Describe how feature helps to prevent earthquake damage. _______________________________
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2. Earthquake resistant building feature: ___bracing – specify type:_________________________
Describe or sketch this feature:
Describe how feature helps to prevent earthquake damage. _______________________________
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3. Earthquake resistant building feature: _your choice:_____________________________________
Describe or sketch this feature:
Describe how feature helps to prevent earthquake damage. _______________________________
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Your Name:
Group Members:
Class Period:
Earthquake-Safe Building Design Challenge – Brainstorm
Earthquake Resistant
Features Included
1. Feature: base isolator
Material:
Sketch your design NEATLY and include labels for materials
you plan on using.
Plan A
2. Feature:
Material:
3. Feature:
Material:
Plan B
Your Name:
Group Members:
Class Period:
Earthquake-Safe Building Design Challenge
Developing a Solution - Blueprint
EQ Resistant Features
Included
1. Feature: base isolator
Material:
2. Feature:
Material:
3. Feature:
Material:
Meet with your group and choose one design that you feel will
be the most successful. Below, sketch the final blueprint of the
design that your group has chosen. Your blueprint must….
 be neat and detailed
 include labels to identify each material in your design
 include labels to indicate the dimensions (size)
of your design
Developing a Solution (continued) – Rationale
1. Describe the design you have chosen to build. What technique(s)/feature(s) have you
included in your design to help prevent earthquake damage? _____________________
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2. Explain why you chose this design and how it will prevent earthquake damage to the
youth art center. Support your decision with scientific reasoning.
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Name ___________________________ Date ___________________ Period _______
Earthquake-Safe Building Design Challenge
Data Table
Collect and record the data for your class testing results in the data table below.
Group
Techniques/ Features
Height
P-Wave
S-Wave
Utilized in Design
(cm)
(seconds)
(seconds)
1
2
3
4
5
6
L-Wave
(seconds)
Name ___________________________ Date ___________________ Period _______
Earthquake- Safe Building Design Challenge - Evaluation
Use your data sheet to answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. Which materials appeared to be the most effective? Explain why these materials
were effective and cite evidence from data to support.
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2. Which building features or techniques appeared to be the most effective? Explain
why and cite evidence from testing to support.
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3. Did your group’s model solve the problem of this design challenge? Describe aspects
(parts) of your structure that worked well as well as areas of weakness.
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4. What improvements could you make to your design? Explain changes, reason for
change and support your thinking with evidence from testing.
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Name ___________________________ Date ___________________ Period _______
Earthquake-Safe Building Design Challenge - Redesign
Use what you have learned throughout this design challenge to design an improved
version of your original prototype.
Your blueprint must...
 be neat and detailed
 include labels to identify each material in your design
 Include labels to indicate the dimensions (size) of your design