The University of Akron, paired with the Defense Metals Technology Center, a Dept. of Defense-funded institution in North Canton, Ohio, this fall will hold a contest calling for pedestrian-bridge designs that specify titanium. The bridge will connect the university’s Quaker Square residence hall to the main part of the campus over high-traffic railroad tracks. Contest staff hopes the bridge project, which may garner enough funding in donations for construction, promotes greater commercial construction use of titanium and advocates its lightweight quality and resilience. Titanium’s high cost precludes its use on infrastructure projects. DMTC hopes the metal’s demand will rise and costs drop if it proves feasible on the pedestrian bridge.