Engineering Marvels of Our Time: The Burj Khalifa, the Chunnel, and the International Space Station


Humans continue to be impressed by the Gothic cathedrals, even though they were constructed 1,000 years ago.

1,000 years from now (in the year 3016 AD!), which 
modern architectural or engineering 
accomplishment will be most admired: 
the International Space Station, 
the Burj Khalifa, 
or the English Channel Tunnel?

Tilly: The space station can always be replaced by new, better space technology. This original version will not be very impressive in one thousand years.

Brehanu: Props to Tilly. The International Space Station will be completely obsolete in one thousand years. It will not be impressive at all.

Darrah: Props to Tilly and Brehanu. Nobody spends their time thinking about the iPhone 3 and how great it was. In one thousand years, the International Space Station will be just like an old iPhone.

Evan: I'll tell you what humans are going to replace, with new and improved technology: the Burj Khalifa. Humans will quickly build a taller building, and people will forget all about the Burj Khalifa. The Chunnel is much more innovative and impressive.

Thomas: Think about it this way. The medieval cathedrals had an important purpose: to help people worship and glorify God. The Burj Khalifa doesn't have an important purpose, but the Chunnel does: faster transportation will be a really important part of the future.

Hudson: Props to Thomas. The Chunnel is the most useful of these three projects. It moves people from one country to another, and it changes lives.

Nia: No, no, no. The International Space Station is the project that will change people's lives. Compared to the space station, the Burj Khalifa and the Chunnel are simplistic.

Meredith: The International Space Station has helped us with the discoveries that we've already made. This is what really matters. It doesn't matter that we may not be using it in the future. It will already have served a very important purpose.

Helen: Props to Meredith. Space travel is going to become a huge part of our lives, and the space station is an important starting point for our adventures in space. The Burj Khalifa and Chunnel are fine projects, but they are not going to influence the future.

Josh: Props to Meredith and Helen. The International Space Station is human beings' greatest achievement related to space exploration. Every space station that's built in the future will be influenced by it. Building it and launching it was the result of courage and long-term thinking. We have people living in space. This is incredible, absolutely incredible.

Coco and Alex: The Burj Khalifa introduces a new style of architecture and engineering. The techniques used to build it will probably be imitated for hundreds of years. People will look back at the Burj Khalifa as an innovative, new way to build.

Zach: The Chunnel is something new -- brand new. We've never had an international tunnel crossing under the ocean. 150 feet under the ocean. This thing is impressive.

 

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