Pbs building big. Forces Lab | Materials Lab | Loads Lab | Shapes Lab.
Pbs building big BUILDING BIG: Dome Challenges Learn more about the PBS broadcast In 1899, after 32 years and three teams of architects, construction of the most expensive government building of its time, the New York State Capitol, was finally complete. The dome was constructed with 8,909,200 pounds of iron. Fill in any of the fields below to search the Wonders of the World Databank. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge is a $600 million crossing, and the one is St. A really strong storm could cause flash floods, turning the stream into a raging river. Vital Statistics: Location: Istanbul, Turkey Completion Date: 537 Diameter: 102 feet Type: Ribbed Purpose: Religious Materials: Concrete Engineer(s Here are some useful links to sites about Bridges. 39 trillion cubic feet Type The Building Big Web site takes you on an educational quest, serving as a companion to the PBS series and making the story of the world's engineering wonders understandable for adults and for BUILDING BIG: Tunnels Learn more about the PBS broadcast program. Major funding for the series is provided by the Cantilever bridge Firth of Forth Bridge South Queensferry and North Queensferry, Scotland Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland Citicorp Building, New York, New York (c) Edward Jacoby: Go to Skyscraper Basics View Databank Entry : Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs | Databank This Web site was produced for PBS Online BUILDING BIG Tuesdays, October 3 through 31, 2000 at 8pm--only on PBS (check local listings) Think big! Engineers have been doing just that for thousands of years, as renowned author-illustrator When engineers have to build over soft, sandy ground, they often dig deep into the earth until they reach soil that's capable of supporting the structure's enormous weight. Following its opening in 1964, the Bridge-Tunnel was Location: New York, New York Building Description: 300-foot cathedral under construction Problem: Construction is halted because soil is too soft Task: Decide whether it's possible to continue Building Big Databank entry on Brooklyn Bridge. This Web site was produced for PBS Online by WGBH. Steel is very strong in tension, and concrete is Winner 2000 PBS. The best thing about building with steel is that you can cast pieces in almost any size and shape, then assemble them Welcome to Char County, the hottest dang region in the state. Peter's Basilica in Rome began to crack under its own After doing the Loads Lab, have kids do this hands-on activity to practice designing a bridge that can support its dead load plus a live load of pennies (and environmental loads in the Build on It The United States Capitol building contains approximately 540 rooms and has 658 windows (108 in the dome alone) and approximately 850 doorways. Vital Statistics: Location: Vatican City, Italy Completion Date: 1626 Diameter: 138 feet Type: Ribbed Purpose: Religious Materials: Concrete Building Big Databank entry on World Trade Center. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge The Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority provides facts, figures, illustrations, photographs, and a The 10-story Home Insurance Building in Chicago was the first tall building to be supported by a steel skeleton of vertical columns and horizontal beams. But these dams also provide a significant chunk of electric power to millions of people. Your desk is swamped with letters, faxes, and e-mails about skyscraper emergencies that happened over the Beam bridges rarely span more than 250 feet. 97 trillion cubic feet Type: Embankment Purpose In 1899, after 32 years and three teams of architects, construction of the most expensive government building of its time, the New York State Capitol, was finally complete. Vital Statistics: Location: Folsom, California, USA Completion Date: 1956 Cost: $81. Vital Statistics: Location: Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA Completion Date: 1852 Cost: $166,647 Reservoir Capacity: 2. The stiff core forms a rigid backbone up the center of the skyscraper. Building Big Building Big Building Big View more photos Series Info PBS. org) Building Big Databank entry on Aswan High Dam. The geodesic dome's strength is due to the fact that triangles are very stable shapes. Vital Statistics: Location: London, England Completion Date: 1843 Length: 1,200 feet Purpose: Pedestrian/Subway Setting: Underwater Materials: Brick One of the largest domes in the world, the Pantheon, is made of concrete. What's a typical day like for you? Do you spend time in the office or in the field? Actually, I do both. The Empire State Building Big is a five-part PBS documentary series hosted by David Macaulay, exploring some of spectacular structures from Roman times to the modern era - in five categories: bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels. 24 trillion cubic feet Type: Gravity Location 2: Build a bridge for rollerbladers and bikers Span: 100 feet Crossing: Stream Connects: Two bike paths Special Notes: "We're tired of getting bumped off the road by angry drivers! Building Big Databank entry on South Fork Dam. So you recommend that Make a Prediction Predict how many magazines you think your newspaper dome will be able to support. Expert author David Macaulay explains the history and the mechanics of building bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams and tunnels. Who Builds Big? Meet Matthys Levy, dome designer extraordinaire! Dome Webography Check out these links to dome domains on the Web. Macaulay highlights the engineering principles and human stories behind some of the most remarkable achievements in the In 1945, a B-25 bomber on its way to Newark Airport in New Jersey crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building. Release Date Oct 3, 2000. Vital Statistics: Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Completion Date: 1998 Cost: $1. Your desk is swamped with letters, faxes, and e-mails about skyscraper emergencies that happened over the Building an arch bridge isn't easy, since the structure is completely unstable until the two spans meet in the middle. Major funding is provided by the National Science Foundation Hand Tools Before there were explosives and tunnel-digging machines, workers used hand tools to carve tunnels. Water erodes their foundations. Finding the Pros and Cons. Engineers have been doing just that for thousands of years, as renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay proves in this five-part miniseries on spectacular structures. The tunnel boring machine can slice through sand with ease, but there's one problem: the whole tunnel will collapse if you don't figure out a way to support the loose sand. Major funding is provided by the National Science Foundation. Coleman Bridge. They will investigate bridges, dams, tunnels, skyscrapers, and domes. Rating TV-G. 8-mile-long complex of concrete and rockfill dams on the Upper Parana River at the Brazil-Paraguay border has 18 generators, and it took 18 years and $18 billion to build. When the dome above St. (click for larger image) Beam bridges rarely span more than 250 feet. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright Engineers used this structural design to build one of the earliest American skyscrapers, the Empire State Building in New York City, which is also one of the heaviest buildings in the world Location 2: Build a bridge for rollerbladers and bikers Span: 100 feet Crossing: Stream Connects: Two bike paths Special Notes: "We're tired of getting bumped off the road by angry drivers! Building Big Databank entry on Seikan Tunnel. Vital Statistics: Location: New York, New York, USA Completion Date: 1972 (Tower One), 1973 (Tower Two) Cost: $400 million Height: 1,368 feet PBS Building Big. The weight of the buttress dam also pushes down into the ground. Building Big. Since 1998, she has worked for Cable-stayed bridges, like the Sunshine Skyway in Florida, have become one of the most popular bridge types in recent years. About This Lab This lab simplifies the real-life properties of a selection of materials, in order to illustrate key concepts. Having technical difficulties? Ask for help. All structures must withstand loads or they'll fall apart. The interactivity of the site is Building Big Databank entry on St. Web Building Big with David Macaulay: With David Macaulay. Major funding is provided by the National Science Foundation A drawbridge is the best choice for this location. Filmed on four continents and hosted by renowned author/illustrator David Macaulay, Building Big is a unique five-part series about history’s largest and Building Big Databank entry on Charles River Bridge. BUILDING BIG began as five films about the creation of bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, domes and dams. Bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels take center stage on PBS with BUILDING BIG, a five-part miniseries on megastructures, hosted by renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay. The Bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels take center stage on PBS with BUILDING BIG, a five-part miniseries on megastructures, hosted by renowned author The city of Craggy Rock needs your help to build four new bridges. Vital Statistics: Location: Three Gorges, China Completion Date: 2009 Cost: $17-$100 billion Reservoir Capacity: 1. One Elephant on Rectangle The weight pushes down on the rectangle and causes the top side to bend. Over a period of about two years, various producers, film crews, and I checked in and out of But a 20th-century invention would change dome engineering forever. Location 2: Build a bridge for rollerbladers and bikers Span: 100 feet Crossing: Stream Connects: Two bike paths Special Notes: "We're tired of getting bumped off the road by angry drivers! The tunnel shield supports the soggy soil so it won't cave in on you as you dig. Vital Statistics: Location: Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, USA Completion Date: 1883 Cost: $18 million Length: 3,460 feet Type: Suspension Experience the ups and downs with engineers as they design, build, and iterate their way through challenges, inspiring the inner “maker” in all of us. The embattled firm has lost money two years in a row but the amount got considerably bigger in 2022. Here are the main features of the s Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs Local Wonders | Who Builds Big? | Educators' Guide | Shop. Back to Bridge Basics : Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs | Databank | Glossary Bridges | Domes Recent projects include a themed attraction for SONY Retail based on The Way Things Work, and the five-part PBS series, BUILDING BIG, premiering nationally in October 2000. Hook a second paper clip to Building Big Databank entry on Thames Tunnel. Vital Statistics: Location: Augusta, Maine, USA Completion Date: 1837 Reservoir Capacity: 740 million cubic feet Type: Embankment (timber crib) Purpose There is a picture of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on the cover of "The Way It Is," the first album by Bruce Hornsby and The Range. , and is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston. Forces Lab | Materials Lab | Loads Lab | Shapes Lab. Consequently, we recommend using at Building Big Databank entry on Georgia Dome. 3 billion Length: 12,828 feet Type: Suspension Purpose Building Big Databank entry on Thames Tunnel. Original Language English. Vital Statistics: Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Completion Date: 1989 Cost: $500 million Diameter: 674 feet Type Location: New York, New York Building Description: 300-foot cathedral under construction Problem: Construction is halted because soil is too soft Task: Decide whether it's possible to continue Building Big Databank entry on Folsom Dam. In my position, I'm a manager, but I still do a lot of the production. So you recommend that to build big! Loads Lab (96K) Explore the loads that big structures must be able to withstand. David Macaulay's hit PBS series by the same name cannot take you as far as this book does into the wonders of the constructed world: dams, domes, skyscrapers, tunnels, and bridges. Following its opening in 1964, the Bridge-Tunnel was It was Hofheinz's idea to build a gigantic dome, large enough to cover a baseball field and grandstands for 50,000 people without a single column obstructing the players' or the spectators' view. The Empire State Building Big Building Big Building Big View more photos Series Info PBS. Tunnel workers gather the muck and dirt as it pours in. Try It Out 1. The solid rock on both sides of the gorge would resist the outward thrust of the arch, making tall towers and deep piers Building Big Databank entry on Holland Tunnel. They toss the dirt Aerial view of the Chrysler Building showing its stainless steel needlepoint spire, New York, New York: Corbis Images Ringed Dome: Forces When a dome is too heavy, the sides push outward, and cracks appear throughout the bottom portion of the structure. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge The Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority provides facts, figures, illustrations, photographs, and a There is a picture of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on the cover of "The Way It Is," the first album by Bruce Hornsby and The Range. About halfway down the Location 3: Build a highway bridge across a busy shipping port Span: 5,000 feet Crossing: Ocean bay Connects: Island and mainland Special Notes: "Our records indicate that more than 500 ships pass With your partner, build a triangle and a square from the straws and paper clips. Buy the DVD. , of Washington, D. Synopsis. mcny. Vital Statistics: Location: New York, New York, and Jersey City, New Jersey, USA Completion Date: 1927 Cost: $48 million Length: 8,558 feet (north It took 38 tons of red paint to coat the entire bridge. Building Big Databank entry on Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Co-production of WGBH-TV Science Unit and Production Group, Inc. Think big! Engineers have been doing just that for thousands of years, as renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay proves in this five-part miniseries on spectacular structures. Vital Statistics: Location: Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan Completion Date: 1988 Cost: $7 billion Length: 174,240 feet (33 miles) Purpose: Railway Setting Throughout history, big dams have prevented flooding, irrigated farmland, and generated tremendous amounts of electricity. Engineers often wrap iron rings, called tension rings Building Big Databank entry on Home Insurance Building. 9 billion cubic feet Type: Gravity The shield is actually a sharp-edged cylinder that cuts through the earth, squeezing the earth in at the shield's face. Intro Forces act on big structures in many ways. Susan Knack Civil Engineer Who Builds Big? | Career Info Index | Engineering Webography Susan Knack is a civil engineer who specializes in building envelope issues. 9 billion cubic feet Type: Gravity PBS Building was then brought onto the project but now they too have collapsed. Vital Statistics: Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA Completion Date: 1940 Cost: $6. Published in 2000, the book details the design of about 25 famous structures, broken down into five categories: Bridges, Tunnels, Dams, Domes, and Skyscrapers. Not a bad choice! The first domed stadium in the United States had a rigid roof. The reservoir is becoming dangerously Here's how the drill works: Compressed air is channeled into the drill, where it exerts pressure on a piston. You saved a lot of money building this dome with concrete. Piles of rocks and a wall of gooey mud could push on the piers of the Building Big Databank entry on Holland Tunnel. This large collection of labs, activities, and interactive tutorials allows kids to explore large structures and what it takes to build them. Genre Documentary. Click on one of the Bridge Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Brooklyn Bridge Charles River Bridge Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Firth of Forth Bridge Garabit Viaduct George P. C. Even today, tunnel diggers use hand tools to carve tunnels through soft sand -- but they always support the sand around them while they dig. Materials Lab. Since ancient times, tunnel diggers have used different types of tools to carve through mountains and bore through oozing mud. Here are the main features of the site: Bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels take center stage on PBS with BUILDING BIG, a five-part miniseries on megastructures, hosted by renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay. Vital Statistics: Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Completion Date: 1885 (demolished in 1931) Height: 138 feet Stories: 10 Materials: Steel Building Big Databank entry on Hoover Dam. 4 million Length: 1,457 feet Type: Suspension (cable Monday mornings at Ace Forensic Engineering Lab are always busy. You could build a continuous span beam bridge by linking one span after another across the river, but boats would have a hard time fitting between the Building Big Databank entry on Tacoma Narrows Bridge. In 1867, British Building Big Databank entry on Georgia Dome. Stack three flat sheets of newspaper together. Glass panels require less maintenance and provide Building Big Databank entry on Petronas Towers. But even with windows, the closely spaced Welcome to "Building Big", your passport to the world of awe-inspiring megaprojects and architectural wonders! On this channel, we embark on a global journey to explore the most magnificent and Building Big Databank entry on Eiffel Tower : was the tallest building in the world when it was unveiled at the Paris World's Fair in 1889. Forces that act on structures are called loads. We also try to understand how structures that are buried Building Big Databank entry on Edwards Dam. Hot and cold weather makes them crack. Here are some useful links to sites about Bridges. Embankment Dam: Forces Water pushes against the embankment dam, but the heavy weight of the dam pushes down into the ground and prevents the structure from falling over. Here are the main features of the site: These Labs require the most recent version of the Flash plug-in. Drawbridges, like the Tower Bridge in London, England, can be quite majestic. In order to build a structure, you need to know what kinds of external forces will affect it. The Empire State David Macaulay, award-winning author and illustrator of The Way Things Work, will entertain in a big way exploring the greatest man-made wonders of the world. You could build a continuous span beam bridge by linking one span after another across the river, but boats would have a hard time fitting between the The continuous span gives beam bridges the ability to span great distances. Most state Capitol buildings in the United States are made of iron or steel. The sizzling sun has caused lots of problems in this county, and the residents are looking to you for help. You can download Flash from the Macromedia web site for free. The programs cover PBS was founded as a family-owned firm in Canberra 33 years ago but now also spans NSW and Queensland, and has completed more than $3. The piston moves up and down with the change in pressure and delivers repeated blows Some of the tallest buildings in the world, like the Petronas Towers, are supported by thousands of steel-reinforced concrete columns and beams. Its top edge is pushed together, and its bottom edge is pulled apart. But my company's not big enough to do the whole thing, because these projects are really very big. Vital Statistics: Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Completion Date: 1992 Cost: $214 million Diameter: 840 feet Type: Cable-supported roof (tensegrity Rectangles, arches, and triangles are the most common shapes used to build big structures. This growing community needs four new bridges, and they're very picky about what they want! Test your engineering skills and try to match the BUILDING BIG is a coproduction of the WGBH Science Unit and Production Group, Inc. Historically, engineers supported domes with iron chains, but there's an easier way to build a dome this tall today. Building Big introduces the creators and builders, reveals the deadly disasters and the personal triumphs, and explains the key engineering principles behind these superstructures. Try again To improve the user experience and maintain a consistent format and appearance, the BUILDING BIG Web site uses JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). 6 billion Height: 1,483 feet Stories: 88 Materials: Concrete Rigid Roof You've decided to build a dome with a rigid roof. 7 million cubic feet Type Cutting through a mountain is hard work! Choose a tool or technique below, and try to figure out the best way to chew a mile-long railway tunnel through this mountain! Hint: The tunnel score will Building Big Databank entry on Aswan High Dam. Today is no exception. How long can a bridge be? Why would a bridge make someone seasick? Find out when you check out these bridges: Filmed on four continents and hosted by renowned author/illustrator David Macaulay, Building Big is a unique five-part series about history’s largest and most complex structures and the Robert talks to David Macaulay, host of the five-part PBS Television Series "Building Big," and author of the book of the same name, about the secrets of constructing the National Endowment for the Humanities, Expanding our understanding of the world, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by What's the tallest building ever built in a major earthquake zone? Find answers and more when you check out these skyscrapers: Learn why structures like skyscrapers stand up -- and keep This week Neil explores humankind’s desire throughout history to raise stones, build big and reach for the stars. General Information . First used in a tunnel around 2000 B. "It's ugly," one angry resident said, "and there's always traffic on the bridge. Without dams, modern life as we know it would simply not be the same. Plus, the stiff Location: Los Angeles, California Building Description: 75-story steel-reinforced concrete skyscraper Problem: The building is in danger of collapsing from poor design Task: Recommend a new You've decided to build a dome with a roof that opens and closes, also called a retractable dome. Vital Statistics: Location: Arizona and Nevada, USA Completion Date: 1936 Cost: $165 million Reservoir Capacity: 1. The single railroad track crosses the Garabit Valley, 400 feet Beam Bridge: Forces When something pushes down on the beam, the beam bends. But, as in the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, several beam Building Big Databank entry on George P. Eventually, every dam must be repaired, removed, or replaced. Dams don't last forever. The weight of the dome is distributed evenly throughout the series of triangles in the When it rains, the city stream rises. Building Big with David Macaulay: With David Macaulay. Coleman Bridge Building Big Databank entry on Hagia Sophia. Building Big is a book written by David Macaulay, author of the book series The Way Things Work. 5 million Reservoir Capacity: 43. They create environmental problems. Buttress Dam: Forces Water pushes against the buttress dam, but the buttresses push back and prevent the dam from toppling over. The hollow tube design is an inexpensive and very effective skyscraper structure. Task: Build a dome over a ballpark Purpose: To create an enclosed, air-conditioned space for ball players and spectators Size: Really big (must cover nine acres) Building Big Databank entry on SkyDome. 97 trillion cubic feet Type: Embankment Purpose Tunnel Boring Machine a 200-ton rock-chewing machine designed to carve through rock. Louis, Missouri, USA Completion Date: 1959, 1990 (renovation) Cost: $700,000 ($6 million renovation) Diameter: 175 feet Can you build a bridge that holds 100 pennies, using 1 sheet of paper and up to 5 paper clips? A bridge must support its own weight (the dead load) as well as the weight of anything placed on it The 4. Macaulay's companion Forces that act on structures are called loads. Learn more in this article from Building Big. 24 trillion cubic feet Type: Gravity This large collection of labs, activities, and interactive tutorials allows kids to explore large structures and what it takes to build them. Welcome to Char County, the hottest dang region in the state. In the 1950s, a radical new design -- the geodesic dome -- changed the way engineers looked at domes for the first time in 2,000 Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs Local Wonders | Who Builds Big? | Educators' Guide | Shop. The buildings cover construction from Roman times to the modern era. Building Big Databank entry on Hoover Dam. You have just enough money to build a retractable domed stadium. In the 1970s, engineers had to strengthen the weak, sandy soil beneath the world's fifth and sixth tallest buildings -- the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City -- with a special Welcome to Craggy Rock! You got here just in time. Vital Statistics: Location: St. For many years, the Garabit Viaduct remained the tallest bridge in the world. Digging a tunnel underneath a body of water is tough going! The ground here is a gooey, soppy mess! Choose a tool or technique below, and try to figure out the best way to dig a tunnel through the In 1945, a B-25 bomber on its way to Newark Airport in New Jersey crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building. For years, engineers used a technique called centering, in which a wooden I design buildings and bridges, all kinds of buildings, from long-span buildings, like stadiums, to tall buildings, high-rise buildings, skyscrapers, to even houses. Alternatively, you can browse the complete list of When engineers have to build over soft, sandy ground, they often dig deep into the earth until they reach soil that's capable of supporting the structure's enormous weight. The more fields you leave blank the more results you will get. 3 billion Length: 12,828 feet Type: Suspension Purpose Building an arch bridge isn't easy, since the structure is completely unstable until the two spans meet in the middle. Back to Bridge Basics : Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs | Databank | Glossary Bridges | Domes Engineers used this structural design to build one of the earliest American skyscrapers, the Empire State Building in New York City, which is also one of the heaviest buildings in the world BUILDING BIG began as five films about the creation of bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, domes and dams. Webography Index Bridges This Web site was produced for PBS Online by WGBH. Building Big Databank entry on John Hancock Center. 6 billion worth of construction work since its inception. Vital Statistics: Location: Yorktown, Virginia, USA Completion Date: 1952 (original), 1995 (reconstruction) Cost: $9 million (original Make a Prediction Predict how many magazines you think your newspaper dome will be able to support. Amazingly, the building suffered only minor damage. Building Big Databank entry on Folsom Dam. First used in a tunnel in 1957 to carve a sewer tunnel through shale and limestone in Toronto, Canada Digging tunnels is hot, dirty, dangerous work. A single beam bridge rarely spans more than 250 feet. Ideas from Teachers for the NOVA program Building Big: Bridges: I developed an activity on bridges for my high school physics students that demonstrates how engineers design a bridge Hagia Sophia Church, Istanbul, Turkey: Corbis Images: Go to Dome Basics View Databank Entry : Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs | Databank | Glossary Bridges The Big Idea A dome must support its own dead load as well as the live load of wind, rain, snow, or ice. BUILDING BIG: Tunnels Learn more about the PBS broadcast program. Louis is $300 million. This companion to the PBS series BUILDING BIG with David Macaulay lets you explore the greatest manmade wonders of the world, discover how designers overcome engineering challenges, and build your Enron Field cost $250 million to build, and the roof opens and closes quietly in less than 20 minutes. Vital Statistics: Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Completion Date: 1969 Height: 1,127 feet Stories: 100 Materials BUILDING BIG: Tunnels Learn more about the PBS broadcast program. But remember: concrete is very heavy. BUILDING BIG is a coproduction of the WGBH Science Unit and Production Group, Inc. In order to build a tunnel in these sandy conditions Here's how the tunnel boring machine, or TBM, works: As the 200-ton TBM moves forward, a round cutter head studded with titanium teeth grinds into the tunnel face and splits large chunks off the In doing so, we provide stability for your house and office buildings, because all the structures that you use are supported by the ground. This large collection of labs, activities, and interactive tutorials allows kids to explore large structures and what it takes to build them. Vital Statistics: Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Completion Date: 1885 (demolished in 1931) Height: 138 feet Stories: 10 Materials: Steel Can you build a bridge that holds 100 pennies using one sheet of paper and up to five paper clips? A bridge must support its own weight (the dead load) as well as the weight of anything placed on BUILDING BIG is a coproduction of the WGBH Science Unit and Production Group, Inc. Vital Statistics: Location: London, England Completion Date: 1843 Length: 1,200 feet Purpose: Pedestrian/Subway Setting: Underwater Materials: Brick Explosives Through Mountain It would take nearly 2,000 gunpowder, nitroglycerin, or dynamite explosions and almost five years to blast a mile-long tunnel through this mountain. PBS has created a television series based Workers scaling one of the cables on the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, 1881: The Museum of the City of New York Print Archives (www. Vital Statistics: Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Completion Date: 1992 Cost: $214 million Diameter: 840 feet Type: Cable-supported roof (tensegrity Monday mornings at Ace Forensic Engineering Lab are always busy. Related NOVA Resources for the NOVA program Building Big: Bridges: Learn bridge basics, take the bridge challenge, find data on bridges throughout the world, discover what forces affect structures Building Big Databank entry on Home Insurance Building. Peter's Basilica. This design gives the owners plenty of space to arrange apartments, movie theaters, and shops on each floor. It would take you more than 80 years to dig a mile-long tunnel with hand tools! "This dam is a danger to society! One of the spillways is clogged with trees and other floating debris, so the dam isn't releasing as much water as it should. The roadway hangs from cables like a suspension bridge, forming a Hand Tools Through Mountain This is the hardest, slowest way to dig a tunnel through a mountain. Vital Statistics: Location: Kobe and Awaji-shima, Japan Completion Date: 1998 Cost: $4. The fifth and sixth tallest buildings in the world, the World Trade Center Towers in New York City, are supported Building Big Databank entry on Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) Vital Statistics: Location: Folkestone, England, and Sangatte, France Completion Date: 1994 Cost: $21 billion Length: 163,680 feet (31 miles Building Big Home | Site Map | Labs Local Wonders | Who Builds Big? | Educators' Guide | Shop. To connect two straws, slip the wide end of a paper clip into the end of one straw. Individual Bridges. Vital Statistics: Location: New York, New York, and Jersey City, New Jersey, USA Completion Date: 1927 Cost: $48 million Length: 8,558 feet (north The BUILDING BIG Web site takes you on an educational quest, serving as a companion to the PBS series and making the story of the world's engineering wonders understandable for adults and for This virtual museum is dedicated to the preservation of big buildings, including the Empire State Building. The programs cover Think big! Engineers have been doing just that for thousands of years, as renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay proves in this five-part miniseries on spectacular structures. In 1867, British Building Big Databank entry on Grand Coulee Dam. Shapes Lab (89K) This Web site was produced for PBS Online by WGBH. Here's how it works: The shield, which looks like a huge tin can, cuts through the earth and squeezes the wet In 1988, the Missouri Botanical Garden tore all 3,625 plastic panels from its geodesic greenhouse, the Climatron, and replaced them with glass. Explore large structures and what it takes to build them with BUILDING BIG™, a five-part PBS television series and Web site from WGBH Boston. You've built a steel frame for your roof, and now you must Large dams all over the world, like the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, have endangered salmon populations. Vital Statistics: Location: Aswan, Egypt Completion Date: 1970 Cost: $1 billion Reservoir Capacity: 5. Thanks to you, the Char In one of the rowdiest town meetings ever, the residents of Craggy Rock spoke out against the new drawbridge. Technology Documentary published by PBS in 2004 - English narration [] Cover[] InformationThink big! Engineers have been doing just that for thousands of years, as renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay proves in The term "skyscraper" was coined in the 1880s, shortly after the first tall buildings were constructed in the United States—but the history of tall buildings dates back hundreds of years. For years, engineers used a technique called centering, in which a wooden Building Big Databank entry on Climatron. Building Big Databank entry on Three Gorges Dam. Simple beam bridge Eagle County, Colorado Library of Congress. Vital Statistics: Location: Grand Coulee, Washington, USA Completion Date: 1942 Cost: $300 million Reservoir Capacity: 421 billion cubic feet Type The New River Gorge was an ideal location for a steel arch bridge. Vital Statistics: Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA Completion Date: 2001 Cost: $86. Currently you are able to watch "Building Big" streaming on Hoopla for free. In the 1950s, a radical new design -- the geodesic dome -- changed the way engineers looked at domes for the first time in 2,000 In 1945, a B-25 bomber on its way to Newark Airport in New Jersey crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building. Great choice! Retractable domes are great for ballparks because they can be opened on nice days Simple beam bridge Eagle County, Colorado Library of Congress. , to mine copper, gold, and salt from BUILDING BIG wants to know! You may not have the Eiffel Tower or the Hoover Dam in your backyard -- but your community is sure to have many structures with interesting stories waiting to be explored. . They're also practical because they open to allow the passage of Geodesic Dome You've decided to build a geodesic dome. 4 million Length: 7,392 feet Related NOVA Resources for the NOVA program Building Big: Bridges: Learn bridge basics, take the bridge challenge, find data on bridges throughout the world, discover what forces affect structures Dams don't last forever. They will investigate bridges, dams, Building Big introduces the creators and builders, reveals the deadly disasters and the personal triumphs, and explains the key engineering principles behind these Building Big is a five-part PBS documentary series hosted by David Macaulay, exploring some of spectacular structures from Roman times to the modern era - in five categories: bridges, Explore large structures and what it takes to build them with BUILDING BIG™, a five-part PBS television series and Web site from WGBH Boston. A three-part series premiering November Building Big - watch online: streaming, buy or rent . Close video See Details. Super idea! Geodesic domes are great for greenhouses. To help support this podcast & get exclusive About This Lab This lab simplifies the real-life forces and actions that affect structures, in order to illustrate key concepts. wrjoro xrg ouk lesh emem zmep uxnk nocr nnffa sechoz