Designing for motion, precision, and resilience.
Our mission
The McGill Seismic Design Team is a multidisciplinary undergraduate organization focused on earthquake engineering, structural design, and architecture. Through hands-on projects and collaboration, the team promotes seismic design literacy at McGill while developing technical skills, innovation, and leadership.
Competition focus
Each year, the team competes in the EERI Seismic Design Competition, where students design, analyze, and construct a high-rise structural model to withstand simulated magnitude 9.0 earthquakes on a shake table. The competition combines structural performance, architectural design, and engineering communication.
Hands-on experience
Members gain practical experience by working through the full design process from concept and analysis to construction and shake table testing. The team also builds industry connections and professional skills that prepare students for careers in structural and earthquake engineering.
Competition History
Explore SDT's recent competition themes, placements, and highlights. Each year brings new seismic challenges, design narratives, and innovations.
Komorebi Tower
First year competing at EERI SDC.
View the livestream of our first performance at Seismic Design Competition →- Placement: 6th in Best Architecture out of 53 universities.
- Survived first simulated earthquake.
- Structural innovation: external diagrid structure.
- Two symmetrical L-shaped shear walls.
- Maximized open space.
- Enhanced lateral stiffness.
- Increased torsional resistance.
SDT 2025 Pamphlet
Browse the latest SDT pamphlet right here.