Extreme Engineering

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Extreme Engineering
Also known asBuild It Bigger
Kings of Construction
GenreDocumentary / Engineering / Architecture / Science
Directed byPeter Frumkin
Olympia Stone
Presented byDanny Forster
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes77 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time42 minutes
Original release
NetworkHD Theater
Science Channel
Discovery Channel
ReleaseApril 13, 2003 (2003-04-13) –
July 9, 2011 (2011-07-09)
Related
  • Engineering the Impossible (2002)

Extreme Engineering is a documentary television series that aired on the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. The program featured futuristic and ongoing engineering projects. After ending of season 3 it airs under the Build It Bigger name. The series last season aired in July 2011. Danny Forster first hosted the series in season 4 and has been the host since season 6.[1]

Origins of the show[edit]

Engineering the Impossible was a 2-hour special, created and written by Alan Lindgren and produced by Powderhouse Productions for the Discovery Channel. It focused on three incredible, yet physically possible, engineering projects: the nine-mile-long (14 km) Gibraltar Bridge, the 170-story Millennium Tower and the over 4,000-foot-long (1,200 m) Freedom Ship. This program won the Beijing International Science Film Festival Silver Award, and earned Discovery's second-highest weeknight rating for 2002. After the success of this program, Discovery commissioned Powderhouse to produce the first season of the 10-part series, Extreme Engineering, whose episodes were written by Alan Lindgren, Ed Fields and several other Powderhouse writer-producers. Like Engineering the Impossible, the first season of Extreme Engineering focused on extreme projects of the future. Season 2 (and all seasons since) featured projects already in construction around the world.

Gotthard Base Tunnel ( Season 1, Episode 6) – The TBM from Bodio arrived at MFS Faido in September 2006

Episodes[edit]

Series overview[edit]

Season Episodes Originally aired
Season premiere Season finale
Pilot 1 TBA
1 10 April 13, 2003 (2003-04-13) June 4, 2003 (2003-06-04)
2 9 July 7, 2004 (2004-07-07) November 22, 2004 (2004-11-22)
3 6 October 19, 2005 (2005-10-19) January 21, 2006 (2006-01-21)
4 6 February 19, 2006 (2006-02-19) July 12, 2006 (2006-07-12)
5 6 October 11, 2006 (2006-10-11) November 15, 2006 (2006-11-15)
6 14 July 10, 2007 (2007-07-10) October 17, 2007 (2007-10-17)
7 8 April 20, 2009 (2009-04-20) June 26, 2009 (2009-06-26)
8 10 April 8, 2010 (2010-04-08) July 1, 2010 (2010-07-01)
9 8 April 8, 2011 (2011-04-08) July 9, 2011 (2011-07-09)

Pilot[edit]

No. in
season
No. in
series
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
Cities in the Sea
01"Engineering the Impossible"Europe/Africa
United States
China
Gibraltar Bridge
Freedom Ship
Millennium Tower (Hong Kong)
ProposedTBA
Activity since original air date: Millennium Tower on-hold/cancelled due to Central Reclamation Phase III lawsuit

Season one[2] episode 4, Icarus' Dream. Master's of Engineering. Amazon Prime Television.

Season 1: 2003[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
11"Tokyo's Sky City"JapanTokyo's Sky CityProposedApril 13, 2003 (2003-04-13)
Activity since original air date: Proposed
22"Subways In America"United StatesEast Side AccessProposedApril 15, 2003 (2003-04-15)
Activity since original air date: Completed in 2023
33"Transatlantic Tunnel"United States
United Kingdom
The Transatlantic tunnelProposedApril 16, 2003 (2003-04-16)
Activity since original air date: Proposed
44"City in a Pyramid"JapanThe Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid over Tokyo BayProposedApril 23, 2003 (2003-04-23)
Activity since original air date: Proposed
55"Bridging the Bering Strait"United States
Russia
The Bering Strait crossingProposedApril 30, 2003 (2003-04-30)
Activity since original air date: Proposed
66"Tunneling Under the Alps"SwitzerlandGotthard Base TunnelUnder constructionMay 7, 2003 (2003-05-07)
Activity since original air date: Completed
77"Building Hong Kong's Airport"Hong KongHong Kong International AirportCompletedMay 14, 2003 (2003-05-14)
Activity since original air date: Completed
88"Holland's Barriers to the Sea"NetherlandsMaeslantkering and Oosterscheldekering storm surge barriersCompletedMay 21, 2003 (2003-05-21)
Activity since original air date: Completed
99"Boston's Big Dig"United StatesBoston's Big Dig underground highway and bridge projectUnder constructionMay 28, 2003 (2003-05-28)
Activity since original air date: Completed
1010"Widening the Panama Canal"PanamaPanama Canal expansion projectCompletedJune 4, 2003 (2003-06-04)
Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 2: 2004[edit]

Season 2 was the first season produced in HDTV for HD Theater.

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
111"Turning Torso"SwedenTurning Torso skyscraperCompletedJuly 7, 2004 (2004-07-07)
Activity since original air date: Completed
122"Venice Flood Gates"ItalyVenice Tide Barrier Project (MOSE Project)Under constructionJuly 14, 2004 (2004-07-14)
Activity since original air date: Under construction (estimated completion 2022)
133"Container Ships"NorwayAdrian Mærsk (Maersk Line)CompletedJuly 28, 2004 (2004-07-28)
Activity since original air date: Completed
144"Oakland Bay Bridge"United StatesEastern span replacement of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay BridgeUnder constructionAugust 4, 2004 (2004-08-04)
Activity since original air date: Completed
155"Iceland Tunnels"IcelandKárahnjúkar Hydropower PlantUnder constructionSeptember 1, 2004 (2004-09-01)
Activity since original air date: Completed
166"Off-shore Oil Platforms"N/ATarzan Class oil rigsUnder constructionSeptember 25, 2004 (2004-09-25)
Activity since original air date: Completed
177"Cooper River Bridge"United StatesCooper River Bridge in Charleston, South CarolinaUnder constructionOctober 5, 2004 (2004-10-05)
Activity since original air date: Completed
188"Millau Viaduct"FranceMillau Viaduct in Southern FranceCompletedNovember 15, 2004 (2004-11-15)
Activity since original air date: Completed
199"Excavators"United StatesHull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine in Hibbing, MinnesotaCompletedNovember 22, 2004 (2004-11-22)
Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 3: 2005–06[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
201"The Snøhvit Arctic Gas Processing Platform"NorwaySnøhvit platform / MV Blue Marlin in the Norwegian SeaCompletedOctober 19, 2005 (2005-10-19)
Activity since original air date: Completed
212"The El Cajon Dam"MexicoEl Cajon Dam in MexicoCompletedNovember 10, 2005 (2005-11-10)
Activity since original air date: Completed
223"Hong Kong's Cable Car"Hong KongNgong Ping 360CompletedDecember 2, 2005 (2005-12-02) (?)
Activity since original air date: Completed
234"Woodrow Wilson Bridge"United StatesWoodrow Wilson Bridge in Washington, D.C.Under constructionDecember 9, 2005 (2005-12-09) (?)
Activity since original air date: Completed
245"Gotthard Tunnel"SwitzerlandGotthard Base Tunnel in SwitzerlandUnder constructionJanuary 1, 2006 (2006-01-01)
Activity since original air date: Completed
256"Dubai's Ski Resort"United Arab EmiratesSki DubaiUnder constructionJanuary 21, 2006 (2006-01-21)
Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 4: 2006[edit]

Powderhouse Productions produced six episodes for season 4 with host Danny Forster. After ending of season 3 it airs under the Build It Bigger name on HD Theater, The Science Channel, and Discovery Channel.

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
261"SuperStadium"United StatesCardinals Stadium in Glendale, ArizonaUnder constructionFebruary 19, 2006 (2006-02-19)
Activity since original air date: Completed
272"MegaTunnel"MalaysiaStorm Management And Road Tunnel (SMART) in Kuala LumpurUnder constructionMarch 8, 2006 (2006-03-08)
Activity since original air date: Completed
283"Biggest Warship"United StatesUSS George H.W. BushCompletedMay 31, 2006 (2006-05-31)
Activity since original air date: Completed
294"Sakhalin Oil & Ice"RussiaSakhalin-II on Sakhalin IslandUnder constructionJune 28, 2006 (2006-06-28)
Activity since original air date: Completed
305"Big Easy Rebuild"United StatesReconstruction of New Orleans after Hurricane KatrinaUnder constructionJuly 5, 2006 (2006-07-05)
Activity since original air date: Under construction (estimated completion N/A)
316"Space Tower"SpainMadrid's Torre EspacioUnder constructionJuly 12, 2006 (2006-07-12)
Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 5: 2006[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
321"South Ferry Subway Station"United StatesThe New York City Subway's new South Ferry stationUnder constructionOctober 11, 2006 (2006-10-11)
Activity since original air date: Completed
332"World's Biggest Arch Bridge"United StatesMike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (the Hoover Dam Bypass) over the Colorado RiverUnder constructionOctober 18, 2006 (2006-10-18)
Activity since original air date: Completed
343"JFK: JetBlue Terminal"United StatesReconstruction of John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 5 in New York CityUnder constructionOctober 25, 2006 (2006-10-25)
Activity since original air date: Completed
354"Stonecutters Bridge: Hong Kong"Hong KongHong Kong's Stonecutters BridgeUnder constructionNovember 1, 2006 (2006-11-01)
Activity since original air date: Completed
365"California Academy of Sciences"United StatesThe rebuilding of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, CaliforniaUnder constructionNovember 8, 2006 (2006-11-08)
Activity since original air date: Completed
376"Hallandsås Ridge Tunnel: Sweden"SwedenHallandsas railway tunnelUnder constructionNovember 15, 2006 (2006-11-15)
Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 6: 2007[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
381"Coaster Build Off"United StatesGriffon steel rollercoaster in Busch Gardens Williamsburg and the Renegade in ValleyfairUnder constructionJuly 10, 2007 (2007-07-10)
Activity since original air date: Completed
392"Battle Machines"United StatesAn M1 Abrams tank undergoing maintenance at Anniston Army Depot, AlabamaCompletedJuly 17, 2007 (2007-07-17)
Activity since original air date: Completed
403"World's Tallest Skyscraper"ChinaShanghai World Financial Centre in Shanghai, ChinaUnder constructionJuly 24, 2007 (2007-07-24)
Activity since original air date: Completed
414"Super Fast Warship"United StatesBuilding an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer for the U.S. NavyUnder constructionAugust 7, 2007 (2007-08-07)
Activity since original air date: Completed
425"Boot Camp"United StatesTraining to use construction equipment in Boston, Massachusetts.CompletedAugust 14, 2007 (2007-08-14)
Activity since original air date: Completed
436"Fault Zone Tunnel"United StatesInland Feeder pipeline project to supply freshwater to Southern CaliforniaUnder constructionAugust 21, 2007 (2007-08-21)
Activity since original air date: Completed
447"Hurricane-Proof Homes"United StatesBuilding heavy duty modular homesCompletedAugust 28, 2007 (2007-08-28)
Activity since original air date: Completed
458"Floating City"BahamasMS Independence of the Seas for the Royal Caribbean Cruise LinesUnder constructionSeptember 4, 2007 (2007-09-04)
Activity since original air date: Completed
469"Biggest Casino"United StatesConstruction of The Palazzo hotel casino in Las VegasUnder constructionSeptember 11, 2007 (2007-09-11)
Activity since original air date: Completed
4710"High Risk Tower"United StatesConstruction of Trump's Tower in ChicagoUnder constructionSeptember 18, 2007 (2007-09-18)
Activity since original air date: Completed
4811"Turbo-Charged Boats"United StatesRebuilding and practice test of an offshore racing boatCompletedSeptember 25, 2007 (2007-09-25)
Activity since original air date: Completed
4912"Mountain of Steel"SpainCity of Culture of Galicia in GaliciaUnder constructionOctober 3, 2007 (2007-10-03)
Activity since original air date: Completed (Final two buildings cancelled.)
5013"Deepest Tunnel"TurkeyConstruction of Marmaray underwater tunnel in IstanbulUnder constructionOctober 10, 2007 (2007-10-10)
Activity since original air date: Completed
5114"Major League Stadium"United StatesConstruction of Nationals Park baseball stadium in Washington, D.C.Under constructionOctober 17, 2007 (2007-10-17)
Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 7: 2009[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
521"Dallas Cowboys Stadium"United StatesBuilding the new Cowboys Stadium for American Football in Arlington, Texas, USAUnder constructionApril 20, 2009 (2009-04-20)
Activity since original air date: Completed
532"CityCenter, Las Vegas"United StatesThe CityCenter development in Las Vegas aspires to change the desert vacationland into a continental metropolisUnder constructionApril 21, 2009 (2009-04-21)
Activity since original air date: Completed
543"Hong Kong Bridge"Hong KongBuilding the Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong.Under constructionApril 27, 2009 (2009-04-27)
Activity since original air date: Completed
554"Navy Amphibious Warship"United StatesThe LPD-17 class of warship for the U.S. Navy.CompletedMay 4, 2009 (2009-05-04)
Activity since original air date: Completed
565"Panama Canal"PanamaNew $5.25 billion expansion projects.Under constructionMay 11, 2009 (2009-05-11)
Activity since original air date: Completed
576"Peru Dam & Tunnel"PeruConstruction of the Limon Dam in Peru and one of the deepest tunnels ever attempted.Completed and operationalMay 18, 2009 (2009-05-18)
Activity since original air date: Completed
587"Abu Dhabi"United Arab EmiratesAl Raha Beach Development in Abu DhabiUnder constructionJune 1, 2009 (2009-06-01)
Activity since original air date: Completed
598"NASA"United StatesTransition from the Space Shuttle program to the Constellation program.Under constructionJune 26, 2009 (2009-06-26)
Activity since original air date: Partially canceled

Season 8: 2010[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
601"Singapore Sky Park"SingaporeSingapore Sky ParkUnder constructionApril 8, 2010 (2010-04-08)

Singapore Sky Park (now Marina Bay Sands) will hang 650 ft (198 m) in the air on top of three skyscrapers.

Activity since original air date: Completed
612"Rio de Janeiro's Power Island Project"BrazilSimplício Hydroelectric ComplexCompletedApril 15, 2010 (2010-04-15)

Rio de Janeiro has frequent widespread blackouts. So Brazil is building one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the world, the Simplício Hydroelectric Complex.

Activity since original air date: Completed
623"Kuwait Tower"KuwaitAl Hamra TowerUnder ConstructionApril 29, 2010 (2010-04-29)

Kuwait's Al Hamra Tower is the world's tallest twisting structure.

Activity since original air date: Completed
634"New Orleans Surge Barrier"United StatesNew Orleans storm surge barrierUnder constructionMay 9, 2010 (2010-05-09)

In an attempt to save the city from another disaster, New Orleans is building the world's strongest hurricane protection system, including the largest storm surge barrier ever built and radical hurricane-resistant homes.

Activity since original air date: Completed
645"South Africa's Mponeng Gold Mine"South AfricaMponeng Gold MineUnder constructionMay 13, 2010 (2010-05-13)

Johannesburg, South Africa's Mponeng Gold Mine is the deepest place on Earth.

Activity since original air date: Under construction (estimated completion N/A)
656"Overhauling the Bay Bridge"United StatesEastern span replacement of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay BridgeUnder constructionMay 20, 2010 (2010-05-20)

Overhauling the San Francisco Bay Bridge is one of the biggest construction projects in the US.

Activity since original air date: Completed
667"Melbourne Stadium"AustraliaMelbourne Rectangular StadiumUnder constructionMay 27, 2010 (2010-05-27)

Melbourne, Australia is building one of the most innovative stadiums ever built. With its unprecedented geodesic roof and advanced cladding, it will be the ultimate fan experience, and an icon for a city known as the sporting capital of the world.

Activity since original air date: Completed
678"Gotthard Base Tunnel"SwitzerlandGotthard Base TunnelUnder constructionMay 30, 2010 (2010-05-30)

The Swiss government is spending 18 billion dollars to create the Gotthard Base Tunnel – the longest tunnel in the world, getting people and goods through the Alps up to three times faster and ultimately changing European transit forever.

Activity since original air date: Completed
689"Abu Dhabi Central Market"United Arab EmiratesCentral Market ProjectUnder constructionJune 17, 2010 (2010-06-17)

Abu Dhabi's $15 billion Central Market will be a new cultural hub for an emerging world destination, complete with offices, parks, luxurious shops, and hotels – and all centered around the world's tallest residential tower, over 1250 feet high.

Activity since original air date: Completed
6910"Port of Rotterdam"NetherlandsPort of RotterdamUnder constructionJuly 1, 2010 (2010-07-01)

Danny Forster goes behind the scenes at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where crews are in the middle of the largest earth-moving project in history – all to triple the port's capacity, and help it serve the biggest ships on the planet.

Activity since original air date: Completed

Season 9: 2011[edit]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Country Project Status at
production
Original air date
701"Rebuilding New York City's Subway"United StatesNew York City subway expansionUnder constructionApril 8, 2011 (2011-04-08)

Examining subway work under New York City, where crews are expanding the transit systems of Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access as part of a large public works project.

Activity since original air date: Second Avenue Subway: Completed (Phase 1); East Side Access: Completed 2023
712"Drought-Proofing Australia"AustraliaWonthaggi desalination plantUnder constructionApril 15, 2011 (2011-04-15)

After 13 years of record-breaking droughts Melbourne looks to secure its future with a $3.5 billion Wonthaggi desalination plant that will turn saltwater into freshwater. Danny joins crews as they build two undersea tunnels, 29 buildings and 52 miles of pipeline.

Activity since original air date: Completed
723"Azerbaijan's Amazing Transformation"AzerbaijanFlame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Cultural CentreUnder constructionApril 22, 2011 (2011-04-22)

After decades of neglect under the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan is reinventing itself. With a $6 billion a year renovation and over 500 new developments, Danny Forster goes behind the scenes of Baku's construction projects: the Flame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre.

Activity since original air date: Completed
734"London's Olympic Aquatic Stadium"United KingdomLondon Aquatics CentreCompleted (Not publicly open until 2014)April 29, 2011 (2011-04-29)

The London Aquatics Centre will host 44 swimming and diving events during the 2012 Summer Olympics and live on as a new addition to the London landscape. Danny Forster goes with crews as they construct one of the most advanced swimming facilities ever built.

Activity since original air date: Completed
745"Constructing Serbia's Largest Bridge"SerbiaAda BridgeUnder constructionJune 18, 2011 (2011-06-18)

Danny Forster joins crews as they construct Serbia's newest national icon. The Sava River Bridge in Belgrade is the world's largest single pylon cable stayed bridge, upgrading a critical freight corridor connecting Central Europe to the East.

Activity since original air date: Completed
756"Amsterdam's Futuristic Floating City"NetherlandsNetherlands land expansionUnder constructionJune 25, 2011 (2011-06-25)

The Netherlands is running out of land. Nearly 70% of its land, which comprises half its population lies beneath sea level. Rather than fight back the sea, engineers are radically making it an ally, The new city of IJburg is to create real estate where none exists.

Activity since original air date: Partially completed
767"Building Mumbai's Modern Airport"IndiaChhatrapati Shivaji International AirportUnder constructionJuly 2, 2011 (2011-07-02)

The $2 billion Mumbai Airport expansion project is one of India's most ambitious undertakings aiming to improve Mumbai's Infrastructure for economic growth. If they succeed to build this breathtaking piece of engineering, it could completely change the way airports are designed.

Activity since original air date: Completed
778"Turkey's Mammoth Hydropower Dam"TurkeyDeriner DamUnder constructionJuly 9, 2011 (2011-07-09)

Crews are now carving out Turkey's largest construction site in the country's most challenging terrain by building one of the tallest and strongest dams ever made, the Deriner Dam.

Activity since original air date: Completed

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Discovery Channel::Meet the Host". Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Amazon Prime Masters of Engineering. 11:58 minutes into the episode 4 Icarus' Dream. October 31, 2020.

External links[edit]