With　the　aid　of　the　response　surface　methodology,　which　is　a　combination　of　mathematical　and　statistical　techniques,　this　paper　presents　a　method　for　updating　a　finite-element　model　based　on　the　measured　static　responses　of　structures.　Unlike　in　the　traditional　model　updating　procedure,　original　finite-element　models　are　replaced　with　response　surface　models　constructed　using　the　uniform　design.　By　this　means　the　complexity　of　a　structure　can　be　easily　expressed　by　explicit　functions　with　low　dimensions.　A　parameter　scope　shrinking　technique　is　also　proposed　to　construct　response　surface　models.　The　proposed　method　is　verified　against　a　numerical　beam　and　an　experimental　full-scale　continuous　box-girder　bridge.　It　is　demonstrated　that　the　proposed　response　surface-based　finite-element-model　updating　in　structural　statics　has　the　advantages　of　easy　implementation,　high　cost-efficiency,　and　adequate　updating　accuracy.　Once　the　response　surface　model　that　is　formulated　explicitly　is　constructed,　no　finite-element　calculation　is　required　in　each　optimization　iteration　during　updating.　Therefore,　such　finite-element　model　updating　can　be　easily　implemented　in　practice　with　available　commercial　finite-element　analysis　packages.　©　2011　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.