Table of contents for Engineering Marvels in Engineering Marvels

For centuries, humans have dared to dream, envisioning structures that defy convention. These awe-inspiring creations, born from ambitious minds and skilled hands, define the landscapes we traverse and the civilizations we’ve built. Among these, the Great Wall of China stands resolutely as a beacon of human determination that continues to endure. Countless individuals and organizations have contributed to the fabric of our modern world, enhancing our quality of life with marvels like the dikes of the Netherlands and Boston’s Big Dig. The Empire State Building, an iconic presence in New York City, invites millions of tourists to marvel at its height and aesthetic, a symbol of our ability to shape the skyline. As we travel across the globe, architectural wonders unfold, each telling a unique story of our achievement. From…

Extending over thousands of miles, this architectural wonder climbs mountains and spans valleys—a strategic fortification built over numerous generations to safeguard against external adversaries. The Great Wall of China’s engineering prowess resonates today, with modern scientists impressed by its sheer longevity and the ancient materials and techniques used in its construction. The wall averages more than 25 feet in height and 13 feet in width, weaving through nine regions in China—from Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west. The Great Wall is often referred to as the “Longest Cemetery in the World,” and as many as 400,000 people died during its construction—many reportedly buried right inside the wall. The storied history of how this imposing presence came to be is a fascinating tale of strategic innovation. The Challenge…

Dominating the skyline at 1,667 feet, Taipei 101 was once the pinnacle of skyscrapers, holding the title of the world’s tallest building from its completion in 2004 until the arrival of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010. Designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and constructed with mostly steel and concrete, this icon was built to endure the wrath of nature. Located in a region prone to typhoons and seismic activity, the 101-floor building’s robustness comes from a deep foundation of 380 piles driven 262 feet into the ground, coupled with a unique flexible design that can withstand earthquakes up to Richter magnitudes of 7. The core of its resilience lies in the massive tuned mass damper suspended between the 87th and 92nd floors—a sphere of 1,456,000 pounds acting as a pendulum…

The construction of the Panama Canal, initiated 119 years ago, stands as a remarkable engineering triumph—especially given the technological limitations at the time of its construction. But the canal’s conceptual roots trace all the way back to 1513, when Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa realized the Isthmus of Panama’s potential as a narrow link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The idea of a canal gained traction in the 16th century, fueled by a directive from Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, but the engineering of the day wasn’t up to the challenge, and early attempts faltered. Had it materialized earlier, global history might have unfolded quite differently: The canal’s completion ultimately transformed transportation and trade dynamics around the world. Here’s how they got the job done. The Challenge Creating…

One of the most ambitious engineering feats of the 21st century, China’s South-North Water Transfer Project is a testament to human persistence. Proposed in the 1950s, the Project wasn’t launched until 2002, and won’t be completed until at least 2050. Conceived to address acute water scarcity in the country’s northern regions (including Beijing), the Project is an elaborate network of canals, tunnels, and aqueducts stretching over 700 miles, channeling water from rivers in the south to meet the industrial and residential demands of the arid north. The objective is to connect China’s primary waterways—the Yangzi, Yellow, Huaihe, and Haihe rivers—and redirect water through three designated canals, known as the Eastern, Central, and Western routes. Several routes have already begun supplying water, and it’s anticipated the Project will ultimately reroute around…

Once a fleeting thought, and today a colossal 357-foot-long floating reality, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits about 250 miles above our heads, like a scene from a sci-fi masterpiece. Its first module, Zarya, was launched on November 20, 1998. With a constant rotation of occupants serving 182-day (on average) missions, the ISS is never devoid of company. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has so far spent over 878 days on the ISS; at the end of his run he will have logged 1000 days in space. This amazing orbital sanctuary—easily visible to the naked eye—has propelled humanity forward with no end of scientific, medical, and technological advancements. As we gaze skyward, the International Space Station watches Earth from above, proof of what’s possible when the nations of the world cooperate.…

Carved through the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest (35.5 miles) and deepest (7,546 feet) railway tunnel in the world. Its creation addressed a key problem: the congested and environmentally damaging truck traffic on Swiss roads due to trans-Alpine freight hauling. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, made up of two single-track tunnels, offers a high-speed transit alternative that significantly reduces travel time between Zurich and Milan and shifts goods transportation from road to rail, easing traffic. As a bonus, this solution also cuts down on carbon emissions, benefitting the environment. In the inaugural year of its operation, the Gotthard Base Tunnel witnessed the passage of 24,757 freight trains and 18,395 passenger trains; by mid-2024, the rail network is poised to handle around 100 freight trains…

Enter the awe-inspiring realm of cablestay bridges with the Millau Viaduct, an 8,070-foot-long megaproject that transcends mere functionality. Spanning the Massif Central mountain range in southern France, this masterpiece offers breathtaking vistas of the roughly 1.2-mile-long valley it gracefully spans. The bridge’s design is a testament to truly thoughtful engineering—it even incorporates a slight curve to prevent drivers from feeling dangerously adrift as they sail through the sky. A transportation solution that’s a proper destination all its own, the viaduct’s allure lies in its structural grandeur and the immersive experience it offers to visitors: a fusion of functionality and aesthetic beauty in one of the world’s most impressive architectural achievements. The Challenge Picture this: You’re driving through the stunning landscapes of southern France when, suddenly, a breathtaking architectural wonder emerges…

Tucked away deep in the Arctic Circle, this Doomsday vault is humanity’s best hedge against global calamities. Officially opened in February 2008 near the town of Longyearbyen on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, its purpose is straightforward: to safeguard the genetic diversity of the world’s food crops. The notion of creating a universal backup facility emerged from growing concerns about the loss of agricultural varieties, extinctions, and the vulnerability of seed banks to natural disasters, war, and climate change. Engineering challenges around putting this idea into action included ensuring it could withstand the test of time and extreme arctic conditions. The project was featured in the top ten of TIME magazine’s list of Best Inventions of 2008: a fitting tribute for a fortress dedicated to preserving the future sustenance of humankind. While…

Building urban infrastructure is challenging in the best of situations. Trying to construct a modern railway network in the middle of one of the world’s most densely populated places is sheer madness. But that’s what Indian engineers pulled off in 1998: a web of robust, modern lines and stations stretching across Delhi and satellite cities. Some trains are underground, some at-grade, and some at elevated stations; a sophistication that reflects the project’s $5 billion investment. Today, with over 2,700 daily trips, the Delhi Metro helps millions navigate the bustling metropolis seamlessly. Here’s how the visionary “Metro Man” E. Sreedharan built a powerful rail system to tame this challenging urban expanse. The Challenge In the late 20th century, India’s capital, New Delhi, was in the throes of an urban crisis. Choking…

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990 by the space shuttle Discovery, was developed to address the limitations that ground-based telescopes encountered—including atmospheric distortion, which blurred images and limited the possible view of the cosmos. The dream of placing an observatory beyond Earth’s interfering atmosphere gave birth to the Hubble, designed to observe from an unobstructed vantage point for clearer and more detailed observations of the universe. To achieve crystal-clear visuals, a nearly eight-foot-long mirror and other sensitive instruments were mounted to the telescope, allowing it to send unprecedented images of events occurring billions of light-years away. Engineers and scientists had to overcome numerous challenges to make Hubble operational, including working with incomplete designs (at the time of initial construction), the difficulties of welding and cutting titanium, and dealing with…

The Golden Gate Bridge stands tall: a testament to human ingenuity, and a beloved icon of the San Francisco skyline. It’s been prominently featured in a multitude of Hollywood films, and is recognizable at a glance by many Americans. But to fully appreciate the magnitude of this structure, one must witness its splendor firsthand—its sheer size, and the intricacies of its design that film and photographs never really capture. On its 50th anniversary in 1987, this long and flexible bridge withstood the weight of about 300,000 attendees, causing the curve of its central span to flatten—descending by seven feet—temporarily. And yet, this marvel stands. As you delve into the amazing story of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge on the following pages, prepare to be captivated by the long,…

A majestic architectural masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House graces the shores of Sydney Harbour in Australia. This iconic structure, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, was built to fulfill a need for a world-class performing arts venue in the city. A competition launched in 1955 attracted more than 200 entries from architects around the globe, ultimately leading to Utzon’s winning design. Construction started as early as 1959, but the structure wasn’t completely finished until 1973. Creating this stunning sail-like marvel was no easy feat. Numerous setbacks had to be overcome, including the obvious-at-a-glance difficulties associated with constructing the heavy, complex geometric shells that form the structure’s roof. Engineers had to invent new techniques to solve these issues, including the “spherical solution,” which involved splitting the curved surfaces into flat segments.…

Visit the Netherlands and you’ll find an incredible network of dikes, sea walls, and pumping stations, working like a high-tech, always-on shield against floods. Believe it or not, the Dutch have been mastering this game since the 11th century B.C. (The ancient Greek Pliny the Elder once dissed the Netherlands as “a pitiful land flooded twice a day.”) Fast forward to today, and the Netherlands have reclaimed 17% of the country’s current land mass from the North Sea: a remarkable victory. How does a country keep significant land below sea level for centuries? If you can’t pack your bags to witness their engineering brilliance in person, a flip of the page reveals this watery saga. Get ready to witness the eternal standoff between human ingenuity and the relentless fury of…

The Falkirk Wheel hoists boats with graceful efficiency between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal in Scotland, reconnecting the two canals for the first time since the lock flight joining them was dismantled in the 1930s. Resembling a nautical Ferris wheel, this rotating boat lift, towering at a height of nearly 115 feet, was actually designed to resemble a Celtic-inspired double axe. “We were looking for something to grab the people’s imagination,” former BWS Business Development Manager Richard Millar said on The American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ web platform. “We were looking for something that would take us to the 21st Century.” Aimed at revitalizing Scotland’s waterways for recreational and commercial use, it replaced a series of 11 locks that once took vessels approximately a full day…

The Empire State Building, the tallest building in New York on its completion and again today, is an architectural masterpiece crafted by the firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. Drawing inspiration from the shape of a pencil, this much beloved structure showcases the seamless fusion of art deco design, architectural theory, and real-world application. Constructed out of 10 million bricks and 730 tons of stainless steel and aluminum,the building weighs a staggering 365,000 tons, even when a giant ape is not climbing up its sides. The 102-floor marvel welcomes thousands every year, and invites exploration into the fascinating history of its design and construction. Join us on the following pages in appreciating the beauty and ingenuity that define New York’s iconic Empire State Building. The Challenge During the 1920s, New York…

On July 20, 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission achieved the unthinkable: successfully landing humans on the Moon. This monumental event served as a pristine moment for America to surpass the Soviet Union’s achievements in the Cold War-era space race. But it was also a leap for scientific exploration and our understanding of celestial bodies. Driven by this unique combination of political ambition and scientific curiosity, the remarkable technological achievement brought all of mankind together, and the success of Apollo 11 generated an optimism for space exploration that has fueled countless subsequent missions. During the historic Apollo 11 landing, the astronauts encountered a series of unforeseen challenges. The gravitational field of the moon proved to be uneven and “lumpy,” complicating navigation. Their intended landing area was obstructed by immense rocks, and…

The Itaipu Dam, a towering structure 643 feet tall (the height of a 64-story building) is a remarkable engineering triumph reshaping the stories of Brazil and Paraguay. This colossal project, now nearing its 50th anniversary, didn’t break even until 2023 with a final $115 million debt payment—a historic milestone. Itaipu Binacional, a joint venture between Brazil and Paraguay, was created by the Treaty of Itaipu to design, construct, and operate the dam. Their dedication transformed ambitious plans into concrete reality over the dam’s 13-year construction, ultimately providing a wealth of reliable energy to both countries. Today, Itaipu has emerged as a global leader in clean, renewable energy generation. The Challenge Bridging the beautiful South American countries of Paraguay and Brazil, this colossal structure harnesses the raw power of the Paraná…

China unveiled an astonishing marvel of modern engineering spanning the Jiaozhou Bay in 2011: the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge (also known as the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge). Constructed to connect the bustling port city of Qingdao to the industrial district of Huangdao, the bridge answered the critical need for direct and efficient transportation across the bay. It was expensive, at $8.72 billion to build, but the project slashed the travel time between Qingdao and Huangdao from over an hour to just 30 minutes, significantly improving the quality of life for residents and businesses alike. Upon its opening, there were concerns that shortcuts had been taken in its construction to meet the expected time of opening: Loose bolts, missing guardrails, and unscrewed nut caps were highlighted, along with several concerning administrative issues. But…

Japan is a crowded, busy island, and it’s not easy to find room for projects with big footprints, like airports. Kansai International Airport emerged as an answer to this unspoken prayer. It’s the world’s first airport created on an entirely man-made island, and it serves millions of travelers each year. The 2.5-mile long, 1.6-mile wide island took three years to construct, and the airport was built in stages thereafter, with Kansai’s Terminal 1 taking the prize as the world’s longest airport terminal—one mile long! Visitors can savor the Sky Deck experience, treating themselves to breathtaking 360° panoramas and close-up views of aircraft in motion. Kansai International Airport has made travel to and from southern Japan much easier, and awes travelers with remarkable aesthetics and innovative engineering design. The Challenge Perched…

Magnetic levitation technology, or “maglev,” is one of the most sophisticated and advanced systems in the realm of transportation. As the world’s fastest commercial electric train, the Shanghai Maglev Train achieves operational speeds of up to 268 miles per hour, employing powerful magnetic fields to lift and propel itself along the tracks, gliding passengers smoothly from Pudong International Airport to the city center, about 19 miles away, in just eight minutes. The famous train began operating commercially on December 31, 2002; in April 2015, it set a record by accelerating to a speed of 374 miles per hour. This technological wonder is a key part of Shanghai’s vision to transform and modernize its transportation infrastructure, to speed up travel and reduce traffic congestion in China’s bustling financial hub. Engineers tasked…

Spanning the Akashi Strait in Japan, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge holds the title of the world’s longest central span for a suspension bridge: It stretches a colossal 2.4 miles in total length, with its longest span well over a mile long. The two towering pylons stand at 975 feet tall, making them some of the tallest structures in Japan. Known locally as the Pearl Bridge, this feat of engineering was constructed to create a dependable and efficient transportation link between the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshu and Iwaya on Awaji Island. Ferocious storms in the region rendered ferry transport unreliable and sometimes dangerous, disrupting travel and commerce. A bridge was the answer, but it took two million workers ten years to complete the build, which began in…

Step into the world of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s architectural gem and the world’s tallest building since 2010. This 163-floor skyscraper doesn’t just grace the skyline—it practically owns it. Hey, when you’re nearly as tall as three Eiffel Towers stacked atop one another, you’ve got the right to brag. The massive structure used 330,000 cubic meters of concrete, which clocks in at around 875,000 tons. Height and heft aside, the building is a carefully designed marvel tailor-made to face fierce desert storms, resist gravity, and weather the scorching everyday temperatures of its environment. The Burj Khalifa is a story waiting to be explored: a testament to human creativity and engineering finesse that will leave you staring upward in awe. The Challenge Dubai, a city that blooms in the heart of…

Built during the Great Depression and completed in 1936, the Hoover Dam looms large, at 726 feet high and 1,244 feet long. Created to curb flooding, provide irrigation water, and supply hydroelectric power to surrounding areas, this colossal concrete arch-gravity dam tamed the famously wild Colorado River. Spanning the Arizona-Nevada state line, the dam was named after President Herbert Hoover—with some controversy—and stands today as a testament to Depression-era American resilience. In 1955, the Hoover Dam was selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders; in 1985 the dam was designated a National Historic Landmark. Erecting the Hoover Dam was no small feat. Workers faced extreme temperatures, harsh conditions, and formidable technical challenges. Men were suspended down the canyon from ropes,…

The Big Dig was an almost unimaginably huge urban infrastructure project, unparalleled in scale and ambition. Controversial at the time, the endeavor has seamlessly integrated downtown Boston with its surrounding neighborhoods and created dozens of newly minted parks and plazas. While not without its challenges, today this revamped highway network plays an indispensable role in alleviating traffic congestion in one of America’s oldest and busiest cities. With 7.8 miles of highway, 161 lane miles, and 2,350 acres of concrete, its dimensions are a marvel to behold. It’s all the result of decades of planning and development that fundamentally altered the fabric of Boston’s urban environment, leaving behind a lasting legacy. Here’s how it all came together. The Challenge The Big Dig, officially known as the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, was a…

New York City never stops growing—and when it needs more space, it creates it. Several parts of the city are literally built on the detritus of its past. Ellis Island, for example, was a tiny three-acre island that has since expanded to 27 acres, with the new parts composed mainly of the rubble from the construction of NYC’s modern subway system and Grand Central Station. (Fun fact: New York owns only the original three acres, and the rest of the island is technically in New Jersey, after New Jersey officials convinced the Supreme Court that the island’s growth had come at the expense of New Jersey’s coastal waters.) If you’ve ever taken a stroll through Battery Park City, garbage made up a good chunk of the ground beneath your feet,…

The Channel Tunnel, inaugurated in 1994, is an engineering triumph that sprang from a contest initiated by French President Francois Mitterrand and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1985. Recognizing the mutual benefits of a cross-channel connection, they invited proposals, and Balfour Beatty Construction (now Transmanche Link) emerged victorious. But the tunnel’s genesis traces back even further. In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte entertained plans for a sub-sea tunnel illuminated by oil lamps, conceived by engineer Albert Mathieu. Those ambitious project languished, but in 1994, renewed efforts materialized into the 31.5-mile marvel that today facilitates seamless travel between France and the UK. The Channel Tunnel stands today as a testament to persistence and innovation. But building it was quite a challenge indeed. The Challenge The need for a direct transportation link between…

Situated on the Yangtze River near the town of Sandouping, the Three Gorges Dam is one of the modern world’s most prolific engineering feats. This colossal hydroelectric gravity dam spans a staggering 7,660 feet in length—nearly a mile and a half—and stands more than 600 feet tall at its highest point. Its significant size impacts both the local population and the surrounding environment, providing water and power to communities, but at costs including loss of biodiversity, delta erosion, and water pollution. Its construction required a budget of 180 billion Chinese Yuan Renminbi (around $25 billion). Risks and challenges that arose during construction include the danger of the dam collapsing, ecological concerns (some of which came to pass), and the necessary displacement of 1.3 million people along the river. Nonetheless, construction…

The Large Hadron Collider is an incredibly large and complex scientific instrument designed to smash subatomic particles at nearly the speed of light. This truly enormous ring—more than 16 miles in circumference, and 12 feet wide—is buried beneath the France/Switzerland border. A quarter of a century in the making, the multi-billion dollar structure has been making jaw-dropping discoveries: progressing scientific knowledge, enhancing technological capabilities, and offering an unprecedented chance for international collaboration. From the intricate design of its magnets to the digging and deploying of the colossal ring, here’s how this modern marvel came to be. As Walt Disney said: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” The Challenge In a long, circular trench buried deep beneath the Swiss-French border lies a feat of human ingenuity so profound…

The city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), wanted to increase their modest beachfront and expand luxury living options. This led to the creation of its iconic Palm Islands, an audacious group of artificial archipelagos. It’s all part of a long-term strategy to gradually diversify the country from an oil-based economy to one focused on tourism and ultramodern real estate. Among the Palm Islands, Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali are each designed in the shape of a 17-fronded palm tree, partially encircled by a crescent. Construction began in 2001 with Palm Jumeirah, which took just six years to build. This island alone brings in over four million tourists each year, marking it a largely successful endeavor. When it comes to Palm Jebel Ali, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid…

The James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most advanced observatory ever deployed into space, embarked on its cosmic journey from Arianespace’s ELA-3 launch complex at Europe’s Spaceport on Christmas Day, 2021. An incredible milestone in space exploration, the deploying of the telescope—weighing 13,650 pounds on Earth—involved the collaborative efforts of more than 20,000 skilled scientists, technicians, and engineers over nearly three decades. Distinguishing itself from its predecessor (the Hubble Space Telescope—see page 95), the JWST took a position opposite the Earth from the sun, where it can face outward into the dark cosmos and capture breathtaking images and invaluable data, expanding our understanding of the universe and helping us get to know the cosmos and our place within it. The Challenge As humanity peers ever deeper into the universe,…