Third annual ‘Brick Bash’ takes place May 23

Watch out, Brick City.

Student-developed brick-bashing machines are planning to do some damage on Rochester Institute of Technology’s campus during the third annual “Brick Bash” at 10 a.m. on May 23.

Due to a generous donation of 1,000 bricks from Miller Brick Company, however, RIT’s brick buildings should manage to stay out of harm’s way.

The popular student project takes the place of a final exam for students in Marty Gordon’s machine design class. Forty-five students have formed eight teams to design and construct the brick-bashing machines. This year’s assignment added a bit of a twist: it is the first year that the machines will be pedal-powered.

“This project lets students actually apply what they’re learning,” says Gordon, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology.

The project is graded based on criteria that include evaluating design and the amount of pieces the bricks are smashed into. In order to count, the bricks must be smashed into specified geometric shapes having at least four sides.

“Brick Bash” will be held in front of the west entrance to Building 70—near the front of the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies.