Buildings and Structures
Engineers, architects, scientists and others are always striving for better, stronger buildings and structures. Learn more about subjects like skyscrapers, intelligent highways and floating cities.
- How Building Implosions Work Safe, professional building implosions combine mathematics, intuition and sheer explosive power. Find out how the experts bring down huge structures without damaging the buildings nearby.
- How Floating Cities Will Work The world's first floating city is absolutely gigantic, fully loaded with amenities and necessities and could set sail in about three years. Find out what the Freedom Ship has in store for its lucky residents.
- How Pyramids Work When pyramids come to mind, most of us think of Egypt, but pyramids exist in many parts of the world. How were they constructed without earth-moving or heavy-lift machinery? And most of all, why were these amazing structures built?
- How Skyscrapers Work People build skyscrapers primarily because they are convenient -- you can create a lot of real estate out of a relatively small ground area. They're also awe-inspiring. Skyscrapers capture our imagination -- how high can we build them?
- How Smart Structures Will Work Smart Structures will completely change the way buildings react to earthquakes! See how they will work!
- How Tunnels Work A tunnel can be simply defined as a tube hollowed through soil or stone, but actually constructing a tunnel is a challenge. Find out how tunnels are built.
- The Five Heaviest Buildings Ever Moved If you've ever hefted your sofa up a flight of stairs, you know that moving is no fun. So why would anyone want to move a building?
- What happens to abandoned mines? Abandoned mine shafts may look romantic with their clapboarded entrances and rusting pickaxes, but they can be deadly. So who ensures that these dangerous sites are properly closed up? You may find the answer a little unsettling.
- What if I wanted to build a Great Pyramid today? If you wanted to build a Great Pyramid in today's market, you would need to take into consideration a lot of factors. How much labor would you need? What about materials? And how much would it cost you?
- What if the Alaska Pipeline blew up? The Alaska Pipeline carries oil from wells in the far north of Alaska down to the the port in Valdez, Alaska. If that pipeline blew up, what would happen to all that oil, and how much damage would it do?
- What if the Hoover Dam broke? Hoover Dam, often called the eighth wonder of the world, holds 10 trillion gallons of water. That's enough to cover the state of Connecticut 10 feet deep. How much damage would be done if the dam broke?
- What if we covered a city in a giant glass dome? Domed cities would provide the same temperature year-round, no rain or snow, and the ability to go outside without worrying about a sunburn. Have they been tried before, and what about the people who enjoy their seasons?
- What is a levee? Whether they make you think of Hurricane Katrina or Led Zeppelin, levees are a critical safety feature for low-lying areas located near water. Why do they break?
- How did public fountains, like those in Rome, work without any type of motor to pump the water? Rome is famous for having large public fountains that work without the use of any kind of mechanized pump. How were these fountains able to generate enough water pressure without a motor? Check out this article for the answer to this question.
- What exactly is a blueprint? If you've ever seen a construction site, you may have noticed that the general plans for construction are drawn out in the form of blueprints. What exactly are blueprints, though, and how are they made? Find out in this article.
- Which is the tallest building in the world? Please settle an argument I'm having with my dad. He says the tallest building in the world is the Sears Tower in Chicago, IL. I think there's one that's taller. Is there?
- Why don't water towers freeze solid in the winter? In places like Montana or North Dakota, you have to ask yourself, why don't the water towers freeze in the harsh Midwestern winters? Find out if water towers freeze into solid blocks in places with extreme winters in this article from HowStuffWorks.
- How Bridges Work Bridges support tremendous weight, span huge distances and all the while withstand the greatest forces of nature. Find out about these engineering feats (as well as some of the flaws).
- Ultra Deep Water Oil Drilling (Video) Watch this Medialink video to learn more about how Shell is developing the deepest offshore oil drilling sites in the world.
- Building the Trump Towers (Video) Discovery Channel's "Build It Bigger" shows an animation demonstrating how speedily the Trump Tower in Chicago is being built. It shows that while concrete is being poured below, work is already underway on the floor above.
- The Parthenon's Optical Illusions (Video) Watch this NOVA video podcast to learn more about how the Parthenon was built. In its day, the Parthenon was the largest marble structure ever built. See how the Greeks used optical illusions to compensate for construction imperfections.
- Rotating Building (Video) Watch this Reuters video to see plans for a new rotating building in Dubai and Moscow. Each of the planned 80 floors will independently rotate 360 degrees. Prices per floor start at $3,000 per square foot. But what a view you will have.
- World Record Swimming Pool (Video) Chile has the world record for the largest outdoor swimming pool. Watch this Reuters video showing how this massive pool recycles seawater to keep it clean. The pool is well over half a mile long and more than 90 feet deep in places.
- Building Tulip Island (Video) Watch this Reuters about a plan to create an artificial island called "Tulip Island". The Dutch engineers that helped to build Dubai's Palm Island are now discussing plans for a 30-mile-long, tulip-shaped island off the coast of the Netherlands.
- Why did the levees fail during Katrina? (Video) Watch this video about the failing of the levees during Hurricane Katrina on HowStuffWorks. Investigations are underway regarding the specific cause of the 17th street canal breaches.
- How the World's Tallest Building Works (Video) Once completed, the Burj Dubai will become the world's tallest building. Learn more about the world's tallest building in this HowStuffWorks video
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Kristiana BurkContact Info:
Atlanta, GA
Channel Director, HowStuffWorks
I am a former librarian and teacher.
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Atlanta, GA
Channel Director, HowStuffWorks
I am a former librarian and teacher.
Send Email
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