The best engineering projects of the century, according to the pros

Construction professionals across the industry have weighed in, revealing their picks for the UK’s most impressive engineering marvels of the 21st century.

The findings, based on a survey of over 500 industry pros, are part of a broader study on sector achievements and satisfaction, spearheaded by Hubexo UKI’s NBS and Glenigan, both leading technology platforms for construction.

Though tightly contested, professionals crowned The Shard, an iconic gem on London’s skyline, the most impressive engineering feat of the century (35%).

As the tallest building in the UK, The Shard was chosen for its groundbreaking construction techniques, including innovative top-down building methods, solidifying its status as a modern engineering marvel. Incredibly, 95% of the construction materials used in the building are recycled.

Interestingly, The Shard's popularity soared among professionals at larger construction firms (£50-100 million turnover), highlighting their admiration for its size and scale. Over half (57%) ranked the skyscraper as their top choice.

Close behind was the 2012 Olympics, with nearly one in three (31%) praising its mix of innovation, sustainability, and urban transformation as the top engineering achievement in the last 100 years. Built on a former industrial site, engineers transformed polluted land into a thriving, sustainable complex, featuring wetlands, green spaces, and renewable energy systems.

The stadium itself was standout, designed to be lightweight and modular, and its use of recycled materials set new standards in sustainable construction.

Just shy of third place was the Battersea Power Station redevelopment (30%), celebrated for retaining its Art Deco charm while showcasing cutting-edge heating and cooling innovation. Professionals praised its CHP network, seamlessly delivering efficient HVAC and electricity to the vibrant mixed-use complex.

Other projects of note were the UK’s Crossrail project (28%), now known as the Elizabeth Line, one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, which revolutionised transport in London and its surrounding regions, and London’s Super Sewer (17%), designed to capture 39 million tons of untreated sewage annually.

Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director at NBS said: “This century has so far delivered some of the most iconic and groundbreaking building projects ever. Yet, for industry insiders, The Shard still stands tall as one of the UK’s most impressive feats of design and engineering.

“The rise of digital construction and building product data sets the stage for groundbreaking new projects – with the likes of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and One Undershaft still to come to fruition, it’s an exciting time for anyone working in design and construction.”