They learned how bridges have transformed lives and were given an insight into the creative minds of the civil engineers who designed and delivered them.
Made possible with the support of leading UK engineering and construction companies, Bridge Engineering told the human, social and engineering story of bridge building. It brought together science and engineering in an interactive, engaging and fun way, connecting Victorian bridge builders such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Thomas Telford and Robert Stephenson with their contemporary counterparts.
The centrepiece of the Bridge Engineering exhibition was the 31m Guinness World Record-breaking LEGO bridge – the equivalent of three London Routemaster buses parked end to end. It was made of over 200,000 individual plastic bricks.
To end the six month exhibition the LEGO bridge was tested to destruction.
ICE has also produced a blog: When bridges fail: the destruction of ICE's LEGO bridge.
The latest exhibition is Tunnel Engineering. Supported by Ferrovial Agroman, together with UNPS, Topcon and CEMAR. It focuses on the challenges and skills behind tunnels and tunnelling.
The Infrastructure Learning Hub
A five year series of science and engineering exhibitions are planned for the ILH, based in ICE's Grade 11 library. Founding partners AECOM, Atkins, Carillion, Costain, John Laing, Kier, Mace Foundation, Mott MacDonald, Ramboll, VINCI Construction UK Limited and WSP have pledged over £500,000. ICE has matched industry donations to the project.
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