We have overseen the planning and construction of many projects, big and small, throughout the years. Each project has its own story, and we love bringing someone’s vision to life. In every city there is a standout structure associated with the city’s skyline, therefore we wanted to go through a few of our favourites which have caught the world’s attention too.
1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai
The Burj Khalifa is a freestanding skyscraper, standing at an impressive 829.8 metres high, making it the tallest building in the world. The sheer height of the building was something that had never been seen before when it opened in 2010, it was revealed that it also held the record for the highest number of floors in one building, an astonishing 211 storeys.
Due to its height, the building was a new challenge for everyone who worked on it. The engineers working onsite had the difficult task of making sure that the building could not only support itself, but that it could also withstand the intense winds and elements. With no similar buildings for reference, the careful planning of the project was crucial to its success.
It was essential that the engineers, architects and builders working on this project communicated clearly with each other about which elements they could get to work and which they couldn’t. If this project wasn’t planned and built correctly, the repercussions could be catastrophic. Clear communication is a key part of a site engineers job, as a supervisory role, a site engineer is essential for the smooth running and success of the project.
2. CCTV Headquarters, China
The CCTV Headquarters in China is in an unusual shape, making it a very impressive construction. It is described as “a three dimensional cranked loop”, forming a continuous looped tube. Standing at 234 meters high, this building is primarily supported by the steel diamond pattern features on the outside walls. This works to support the structure through the size of the pattern, with the smaller diamonds creating a stronger support as the shape is compacted tighter. This method of support construction is used on the outside of the build to give a visual representation of the force that is ever present in this impressive structure.
The building originally started out as two separate structures, but because Beijing is prone to intense hot and cold weather, the decision was made to join the two buildings together for further stability. This adaptation required intense planning, particularly as the building was known to expand and contract depending on the temperature. Therefore, engineers identified that in the early morning, before the rising of the sun, was the best time to carry out construction on the building, as the temperature was at the perfect level for this work. This diagnosis by the site engineer helped provide a solution that enabled the team to make short work of the necessary changes. Without this, the building’s structure would have been in peril and a potential disaster to its surroundings.
3. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
Last but not least, an engineering mystery and one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest pyramid on the Giza Plateau and was the largest structure to exist for over 3,800 years. To this day, it is still unknown how the two million blocks of stone were strategically placed, when they weighed an astonishing 2.3 metric tonnes each.
It is rumoured that to achieve the height and shape of the structure, ramps were used to transport the blocks up to their desired position. Having been built in 2600 BCE, there wouldn’t have been any smart technology or equipment, such as cranes, to help complete the build. As trained site engineers, we can only imagine the level of detailed planning and vigorous attention to detail that would have been required to reach completion for a structure this size built before the common era.
If the Great Pyramid of Giza were to be built today, site engineers would be present onsite to carry out health and safety checks, whereas in 2600 BCE these checks would have been overlooked. The mystery of how the Pyramids were erected is what makes them one of the most impressive constructions to date.
We could continue to list hundreds of spectacular establishments which have been built throughout history, these were a sample of our favourites, all of which had some type of dilemma or issue identified before or during the build. It’s down to the site engineer to identify, diagnose and solve these by cautiously planning the mechanics behind making them successful.
Our professional and reliable site engineers are qualified to manage and oversee the successful completion of your project, contact us on 016032 11808 or email us today at info@easeltd.co.uk.
