Engineers who have crafted some of the world's largest projects

Have you ever wondered what the process of building incredible skyscrapers is like? Or how a bridge is made over the depths of a river? It’s normal to question how we humans can build things that seem extremely complex. Behind every building is a civil engineer who plays a big part. We’ve put together some of the most famous landmarks to date in order to inspire you.

Burj Khalifa

Located in Dubai U.A.E, standing tall and proud at 2,716.5 feet you most likely would have heard about the world's largest building. It was inaugurated in 2010 and the leading engineer behind the building was William Frazier Barker, an American structural engineer; however, it is said there were over 300 skilled engineers involved in the project. Barker received an international award of merit in structural engineering for his impressive contribution to the craft of the skyscraper. He developed what is known as the ‘buttressed core’ structural system which supports the heights of the building. He has also worked on other famous buildings such as the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago and is respected in many engineering societies.

The Shard

This incredible building made up of over 11,000 panels of glass is known for its breath-taking design and views. You can see up to 40 miles of London City from the building. Reaching a height of 310 metres, it opened its doors to the public in 2013 and now claims the status of the tallest building in Western Europe. The incredible project engineer behind this building was Roma Agrawal, a British Structural Engineer, and a true inspiration, empowering many women who want to start their careers in engineering through her physical and written work. She was appointed a fellow of the Institutions of Civil Engineers in 2018 and has presented her incredible work to over 15,000 people globally. Agrawal has gained many awards for her creations and continues to encourage diversity in the industry through many platforms.

Tower Bridge

The globally known bridge attracts millions of tourists in London every year due to the uniqueness of the structure.t is famous for being able to split apart to let boats pass through avoiding disruptions and accidents. Only opening to traffic in 1973, the bridge has stood proudly over the river Thames since 1894; after 8 years of construction to perfect it. English Civil Engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry was the leading engineer on the project, earning the well-respected name he holds to this day. In 1898, Barry was elected president of the Institution of Civil Engineers and even after this project- continued to work on many impressive structures such as more bridges and even some docks around London.

Eiffel Tower

Paris, also known as the city of love, is majestically lit up in the night by the mighty Eiffel Tower. This structure holds a title of being in the top 3 most famous landmarks in the world! The tower is over 300m tall and was built from 1887-1889 and made to be the centrepiece of the 1889 World’s Fair. Naming the structure after himself, Gustave Eiffel was the French Civil Engineer behind the sensation. He may be one of the most well-known engineers to date having worked on countless projects. He also contributed to the Statue of Liberty in New York even before the Eiffel Tower. An inspiration to many!

Imagine what it would feel like to be the next civil or structural engineer… to create a world-famous structure… that could be you! The University of Bolton offers an incredible BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering degree that will help you kick-start your career the right way. With supportive and encouraging experts to guide you along the way, access to high-quality facilities and a hands-on educational approach; you will gain all the knowledge and skills needed to start off successfully.

Whether you want to go down the route of civil, structural, geotechnical or many other engineering routes, this degree will enable you to do so. For more information about this course, follow the link here.

If you’re looking for any further information, please feel free to contact us on enquires@bolton.ac.uk or call us 01204 903100. Come and enjoy #UniAsItShouldBe.