World Famous Construction Structures and The MasterMinds Behind Them
Over the years, multiple jaw-dropping construction structures have popped up in different countries. Some are known for their architectural design, such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Others are famous for their historical background, such as the Berlin Wall. Though some structures exist to help achieve different economic interests, they have become hotspot destinations for tourists.
Below are a few select structures, plus the architects/persons and companies that spearheaded these designs.
Iconic Structures Around The World
WHICH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BUILT THE SHARD?
The Shard, aka the Shard of Glass, is a building that is made out of glass and takes the shape of a pyramid. It dominates the skyline of London, letting you have a great view of the city when at the top.
At the height of 306 meters, it is the tallest building in London and Western Europe, the 4th tallest in Europe. The building runs on 44 lifts. It has 11,000 exterior glass panels, each with a specific design. They reflect light at different intensities depending on the season and time, making it appear differently.
The Shard was designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano alongside Broadway Malyon Construction Company that aided in the building.
WHO BUILT THE SUEZ CANAL?
The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway located in Egypt. It is 193.30 km long and connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It is an important sea route that saves time for ships traveling between Asia and Europe.
French explorer and engineer Lianant Bellefonds discovered that the Mediterranean and the Red Sea are at the same sea level. This discovery birthed the idea of constructing the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal company was created by a French diplomat, Ferdinand de Lesseps, who was given a 99-year lease over the water and surrounding area. The canal construction commenced in early 1859 through the use of peasant labor and advanced technology at the time.
WHICH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BUILT THE EIFFEL TOWER?
The Eiffel Tower is the tallest in France. It is located in Paris and is a famous tourist attraction. Built over 324 meters high, the construction structure commenced in 1889. This makes it the first man-made structure in the world to exceed 1000 ft.
It derives its name from Gustave Eiffel, whose company was in charge of constructing the landmark. It consists of four large arched legs set on masonry piers. Two key engineers at Gustave’s company imagined the structure for the 1889 World Fair in Paris and brought it to life.
The tower was designed and built to sway slightly in the wind. However, the sun causes it to move as much as 18 centimeters away from the sun and grow by about 6 inches.
THE PANAMA CANAL
The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway located in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. It is 82 km in length. It reduces the time ships would take to get between the two oceans. The canal allows ships to cross going in either direction, and it takes nearly 10 hours from one side to the other.
The timeline for its construction structures of the canal commenced in 1881, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps. His construction company also spearheaded the construction of the Suez Canal. They combined efforts with Gustave Eiffel to build gates for the canal. However, their project was not successful.
It later got approval to continue from US President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, who took full control of the Panama Canal project. The project was completed in 1914 with laborers from other countries.
WHICH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BUILT THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE?
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the iconic bridges in the world, located in Australia. It is the largest steel arch bridge in the world. Besides connecting cities, it serves as a key tourist attraction for Australia.
The bridge consists of 53,000 tonnes of steel and 6 million hand-driven rivets. The arch spans 503 meters, with the bridge about 134 meters above the water.
Its construction commenced in 1923, and the project lasted nine years. It was overseen by Dorman Long & Co, a construction company centered in the UK.
THE TRIFT BRIDGE
The Trift Bridge is a suspension bridge located in the Swiss Alps in Switzerland, running at 170 meters in length and 100 meters high. It was constructed in 2004 and modeled after Napalese High Wire Bridges as its inspiration.
Due to its attraction to tourists, it was replaced in 2009 with a safer and more accessible bridge. Records indicate that Ingenieurbüro Hans Pfaffen, a Swiss engineering firm, was behind the iconic bridge.
THE BERLIN WALL
The Berlin wall in Germany was constructed by the German Democratic Republic from13th August 1961. The length of the wall was 155km and was four meters high. The wall stood until November 9, 1989, and it remains an iconic symbol in Europe. The original purpose of this construction structure was to prevent the movement of western fascists from entering East Germany.
WHICH COMPANY BUILT THE BURJ KHALIFA?
Famous for being the tallest building in the world, this iconic landmark stands in Dubai. It is also the tallest free-standing structure globally, with 828 meters in height and more than 160 stories. The main contractor for this project was Samsung C&T that worked together with Architect Adrian Smith, Structural Engineer Bill Baker, and Architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
It took a combination of science and creative vision to get this iconic structure up, mainly the idea of creating a tourism landmark that would further place Dubai on the world map.
Conclusion
The world is full of majestic buildings and construction structures that serve as inspiration to both the industry and humanity. If you are looking for a construction company in Nigeria to build the next masterpiece for humanity, you are in the right place; let’s talk about your project!