Building Big with David Macaulay: Skyscrapers (2000)

Building Big with David Macaulay: Skyscrapers (2000)
Member Rating:  
David Macaulay, the renowned author/ illustrator of The Way Things Work, has a knack for demystifying mechanical structures by explaining the engineering, physics, and human ingenuity that have gone into their design -- although in sum, his explanations usually make the man-made world seem ever more curious and phenomenal. In WGBH Boston's Building Big series, Macaulay visits the world's great architectural structures to tell their stories and the stories of the men who built them; in this program he discusses early "skyscrapers" created by powerful Italian families, introduces rare footage of the building of the Empire State Building, explains how flaws in the Citicorp Center in New York produced a near-disaster, and profiles the career of Gustave Eiffel -- the bridge builder and eventual designer of what may be the most recognizable structure on earth. The video includes a mini skyscraper-building activity. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide

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Director(s):
Joseph McMaster
Format(s):
DVD,  (View All Versions)

Synopsis of Building Big with David Macaulay: Skyscrapers

David Macaulay, the renowned author/ illustrator of The Way Things Work, has a knack for demystifying mechanical structures by explaining the engineering, physics, and human ingenuity that have gone into their design -- although in sum, his explanations usually make the man-made world seem ever more curious and phenomenal. In WGBH Boston's Building Big series, Macaulay visits the world's great architectural structures to tell their stories and the stories of the men who built them; in this program he discusses early "skyscrapers" created by powerful Italian families, introduces rare footage of the building of the Empire State Building, explains how flaws in the Citicorp Center in New York produced a near-disaster, and profiles the career of Gustave Eiffel -- the bridge builder and eventual designer of what may be the most recognizable structure on earth. The video includes a mini skyscraper-building activity. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
65 mins

Complete Cast of Building Big with David Macaulay: Skyscrapers


Director(s):
Joseph McMaster
Writer(s):
Joseph McMaster
Producer(s):
Joseph McMaster
Categories:
TelevisionSpecial InterestDocumentary
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Member Reviews (2)

 
Guy B.

I have been using this series to teach my two sons some engineering principles. This series deals with construction techniques and ways engineers overcame problems they faced. There is also a contrast with other examples and how certain techniques more successfully addressed the challenges of nature and business on a big scale. Nice history of architecture along with it and it kept my eight and eleven year olds interest which is saying a lot.

Yes   |   No

 
Michael S.

Very well done documentary -- better than I was expecting. Traces the history of tall buildings from the earliest towers in Italy up through the Petronas Towers, including a look at the collapse of the WTC. Lots of cool engineering facts, but presented in language easy enough for anyone to understand. Neat little bonus activity at the end for kids, courtesy of the ZOOM children's show.

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