Gradient Ascent: B2SLab Takes on the ETSEIB Staircase Race 2026
Ascending the hard way
Today, as part of the Festa de l’Escola 2026, the ETSEIB hosted its traditional Cursa d’Escales — a staircase race from the ground-floor lobby all the way to the 11th floor of the building on Diagonal. Organized by the ETSEIB Student Assembly, the event is part athletic challenge, part school celebration, featuring prizes for the fastest runners and the best costume.
B2SLab entered the race under the name Gradient Ascent — because if you’re going to climb stairs for science, you may as well do it with a proper optimization metaphor.
We suffered (quite a lot, to be honest)
Eleven floors of stairs. No elevator. No shortcuts. Lungs burning from floor three onwards. Legs questioning every life decision by floor seven. And yet, everyone made it to the top — which, given the average daily step count of a research lab, is something to be genuinely proud of.
The team showed up, laced up, and gave it everything they had. The flower leis and the badges reading “Jo he pujat 12 plantes” (“I climbed 12 floors”) tell the whole story.
Blanca wins the female category
The highlight of the day: Blanca took first place in the female classification, earning a well-deserved diploma and a round of applause in the ETSEIB lobby. An outstanding result and a proud moment for the whole team.
Beyond the race
The Cursa d’Escales was just one part of a full day at the school’s annual festival. The programme also included a popular lunch (dinar popular), an ETSEIB building tour, and a gymkhana — a full afternoon of activities that brought together students, staff, and researchers from across the school.
Congratulations to the organizers, to all participants, and especially to Blanca. Same time next year?