World records aren’t something you likely associate with the world of metal construction. (After all, a metal structure is a metal structure, right?) Not so fast. The truth is, in any given industry — and any given specialty within that industry — there is someone driven to push the envelope and see what exactly they can accomplish. Sometimes that results in obscure world records, other times it simply results in eye-catching builds (which, in our opinion, are no less impressive.)
Here, the Metallic Products team has pulled together a few of our favorite world records related to metal structures. Read on and get inspired! (Has your company ever attempted a world record win?)
Longest Roof Span Covered by a Single Metal Corrugated Sheet: 200.9 Meters
This award went to Indonesia’s PT. Utomodeck Metal Works on September 1, 2013. According to the official listing on the Guinness World Records website, the corrugated metal was produced at the job site and rolled out directly onto the structure itself.
Tallest Iron Structure: The Eiffel Tower
Paris’ Eiffel Tower isn’t just an iconic fixture in the City of Lights. At 300 meters (or 984 feet, 3 inches) tall, it’s a record-holder, too. In fact, the structure’s listing on the Guinness World Records website notes that it was the world’s tallest man-made structure until New York’s Chrysler Building took the title in 1931.
World’s First Skyscraper: Chicago’s Home Insurance Building
Although the Home Insurance Building, constructed between 1884 and 1885, might not seem impressive by modern-day standards, its 10 stories were a sight to behold back in the day. According to its Guinness World Record listing, the building featured a steel frame with an exterior made of brick, but was demolished in 1931.
Largest Steel Spoon: 16.18 Meters
It might not be a traditional metal structure, but it’s a fun world record, nonetheless. According to the Guinness World Records website, this award goes to Uri Geller for a sculpture outside the Uri Geller Museum in Tel Aviv, Israel. In U.S. measurements, the spoon comes in at 53 feet, 1 inch. (Just think of the cereal you could eat with that thing!)
Sometimes it’s fun to take a step back to consider the metal construction folks who blazed the way for current builds — and those who have used the medium to introduce some fun to the world around us, too. We hope this list taught you a thing or two, and that it provides you with some fun conversation starters!
