About this season
MegaStructures is a documentary television series appearing on the National Geographic Channel in the United States and the United Kingdom, Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, France 5 in France, and 7mate in Australia. Each episode is an educational look of varying depth into the construction, operation, and staffing of various structures or construction projects, but not ordinary construction products. Generally containing interviews with designers and project managers, it presents the problems of construction and the methodology or techniques used to overcome obstacles. In some cases this involved the development of new materials or products that are now in general use within the construction industry. MegaStructures focuses on constructions that are extreme; in the sense that they are the biggest, tallest, longest, or deepest in the world. Alternatively, a project may appear if it had an element of novelty or are a world first. This type of project is known as a Megaproject.
Episodes (19)
1. Beijing Water Cube
Aired 13 May 2008 • 60 min
2. Bridge Breakdown
Aired 15 May 2008 • 60 min
A historic bridge is being taken down and recycled, but the demolition team faces challenges while doing it.
3. 747 Destruction
Aired 16 May 2008 • 60 min
4. Shanghai Super Tower
Aired 20 May 2008 • 60 min
The design and construction of the Shanghai World Financial Centre which, at 101 floors high, will be China's tallest structure.
5. China's Ultimate Port
Aired 27 May 2008 • 60 min
6. Sinking an Aircraft Carrier
Aired 29 May 2008 • 60 min
Looks at the technological designs and construction of the huge cruiseliner "Freedom of the Seas".
7. The World's Biggest Cruise Liner
Aired 4 June 2008 • 60 min
The renovated California Academy of Sciences - the world's largest green public building - emerges from the landscape of Golden Gate Park. Viewed from the air, the undulating living roof resembles a piece of the park flying as if by magic.
8. World's Biggest Casino
Aired 17 June 2008 • 60 min
9. Icelandic Super Dam
Aired 18 June 2008 • 60 min
This episode looks at the Karahnjukar Hydroelectric Project in Iceland - an audacious engineering feat that includes the building of Europe's highest dam, the drilling of 30-mile-long tunnels and the construction of a gigantic underground power plant.
10. Beijing Olympic Stadium
Aired 5 August 2008 • 60 min
12. Deep Earth Drillers
Aired 20 December 2008 • 60 min
Mega Green Tech is in search of geothermal power.
14. World Trade Center Bahrain
15. Atom Smasher
Aired 8 January 2008 • 60 min
The Large Hadron Collider is a titan of science. Built on an unsurpassed scale, scientists aim to capture the smallest particles in the universe.
21. South Pole Station
Aired 9 January 2008 • 60 min
22. The World's Biggest Cruiseliner
Aired 4 June 2008 • 60 min
Looks at the technological designs and construction of the huge cruiseliner "Freedom of the Seas".
24. Impossible Build
Aired 3 September 2008 • 60 min
The renovated California Academy of Sciences - the world's largest green public building - emerges from the landscape of Golden Gate Park. Viewed from the air, the undulating living roof resembles a piece of the park flying as if by magic.
25. World Trade Center Bahrain
Aired 3 January 2009 • 60 min
31. Grand Canyon Skywalk
Aired 28 February 2009 • 60 min
32. Ultimate Skyscraper
Aired 9 January 2000 • 60 min