Research Paper On Eiffel

3082 Words7 Pages

Introduction
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It is located in Paris, France on the Champ de Mars. Construction was completed in 1889, just in time for the 1889 Universal Exposition. At the time of completion, it was the tallest structure in the world and held the title for forty-one years. It was the first man made structure to surpass one thousand feet. Today it is the second tallest structure in France after the Millau Viaduct. This project which seems to have followed a design-build approach was managed by head engineer and company owner, Gustave Eiffel.
Project Manager: Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel, Figure 1, was born in Dijon, France on December 15th, 1832. Figure 1: Gustave Eiffel
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Many of the competitors were outraged that an engineer could believe at “his iron monstrosity” would be chosen for the centrepiece of not only the Exposition but also the beautiful city of Paris (Jonnes, 2010). A French architect, Jules Boudais, began promoting his own design in February of 1885. Jonnes (2010) explains that his design was “a one-thousand-foot-tall Sun Column, a classical granite tower of elegant loggias enclosing a hollow center.” Bourdais challenged Eiffel’s design by asking “how elevators could go up and down inside his tower’s curved legs,” (Jonnes, 2010). For the year before the design was chosen architects attacked Eiffel’s design and tried to persuade the government into choosing Bourdois design, (Jonnes, 2010). Edouard Lockroy, France’s Minister of Trade, announced a change to the terms of the competition on May 1st, 1886. These changes stated that each entry had to be a design for an iron tower of three-hundred meters on the Champ de Mars, (“Eiffel Tower” Wikipedia, n.d.). This amendment made Eiffel’s design a guaranteed winner. All entries had to be submitted by May 18th, 1886. Jonnes (2010) states that “though Lockroy suggested that the design by for an iron tower of 300 meters, many among the 107 entrants ignored that guideline.” She then goes on to talk about the other designs that were submitted for …show more content…

The website article “Financing the Eiffel Tower” explains this contract in further detail and states that “Edouard Lockroy, minister and head committee of the 1889 World’s Fair, representing the state, Eugene Poubelle, representing the city of Paris and Gustave Eiffel, signed a Tripartite Concession Agreement,” (“Financing the Eiffel Tower”, 2013). This contract established that Eiffel was responsible for the design, construction, and financing of the Eiffel Tower. For twenty years after the Exposition was complete, the tower would be under Eiffel’s ownership and control. After twenty years the Eiffel Tower would be transferred to the City of Paris, (“Financing the Eiffel Tower”, 2013). This contract is referred to as a Build-Own/Operate-Transfer

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