Jake R Materials Engineer
As the group's material engineer I am determined to figure out the best way that we can use our materials. I interviewed my uncle. He has experience in construction.  He works for Carpet Weavers currently. He said cardboard is better then the paper we are using, but it would be more expensive of course. I asked him about skyscrapers he tried to tell me how it all works, he is not an expert. He said that skyscrapers dig in the ground slightly which keeps it standing much better and that it has a steel frame. He said we shouldn't build ours like it because ours will not be as stable unless we have a wide bottom. So, maybe a pyramid structure with a flat top would be a good structure. He gave me some tips, like we should evenly distribute the weight on our structure.
The paper we are using is Manila file folder paper. Paper comes in many different sizes and grades, like recycled paper to wax paper. The paper we are using is made of paper pulp, cellulose fiber, and Manila paper. File folder is generally stronger and stiffer then regular white paper but we can strengthen it even more by doubling the width of it, which can decrease its flimsiness. We are using regular white glue to connect our structure. There are two main types of glue, adhesive and cohesive, white glue is adhesive which means it sticks better to objects then to itself which is cohesive. White glue is typically made of  polymers and dissolved in solvents. The solvents evaporate and then the adhesive process begins which makes it harden. This can be done in around 35 minutes but for full strength its better to leave it to dry overnight. 
Citations :

Gene Orozco - interviewed

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mglue.html

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Corrugated-Cardboard.html

http://www.piag.org/buyers/tips/Paper_grades.htm

http://www.elmers.com/index.asp

 

Reflections

Our structure held 190 lbs. We met the height and weight requirements. We used all of our folders. Our structure would have held more if it was packed in more tightly and short. The cylinders wobbled and three was on one side inside and four on the opposite side. Our outside was strong, rectangle, and the walls were strengthened by the triangles inside of it. Our weaknesses were mostly the cylinders which made it unbalanced and it tipped to one side easily. I glued them together which was not a very good job. To make our structure better if we did it again, I'd lose the cylinders we had and make more smaller ones to pack them in tightly. The overall structure would be smaller and thinner.