Design and construction project case studies: Knowledge hub

Summary

Case studies are detailed accounts of projects that document key aspects of their planning, delivery, and outcomes. They often cover a wide range of topics, including project objectives, budgets, timelines, design approaches, procurement routes, sustainability initiatives, innovations and stakeholder engagement. Case studies can also highlight challenges faced during construction, such as supply chain issues, regulatory requirements, or site-specific constraints, and how these were managed or overcome. They frequently showcase innovations in technology, materials, or project management processes, providing a comprehensive record that others in the industry can learn from.

Why case studies matter

Case studies are important because they provide valuable inspiration, lessons and benchmarks for future projects. By analysing what worked well and what could have been improved, construction professionals can reduce risks, improve efficiency, and drive higher standards of delivery. They also promote transparency, allowing clients, contractors, and regulators to see evidence of good practice and accountability. Case studies support education, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement, helping the industry adopt best practices in sustainability, digital construction, health and safety, modern methods of construction and so on. In doing so, they contribute to building a stronger, more innovative, and more resilient construction industry.

It is important to note however, that project teams are generally more willing to write about the successes on a project than the problems.

Key articles

Below is a list of the most widely-read and important articles about building projects on Designing Buildings:

Collections:

• 7 Engineering Wonders of the World.
• Architecture of concert stage designs.
• Best cinema architecture in the UK.
• Best gym architecture in the world.
• Building of the week series.
• Buildings in film.
• Buildings in music.
• Buildings that were never realised.
• Mimetic architecture.
• Tallest buildings in the world.
• Top 10 most expensive construction projects in the world.
• 100 Unusual buildings.

Key projects / buildings:

• 1 Undershaft. Skyscraper case study, iconic London tower.
• A House for Essex. Artistic timber home by Grayson Perry, blending art and architecture.
• Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. World’s longest suspension bridge in Japan.
• Angkor Wat. Ancient temple complex of cultural and structural significance.
• Antwerp Law Courts. Monumental civic architecture in Belgium.
• Battersea Power Station. Conservation-led redevelopment of a historic industrial icon.
• BedZED. London’s first large-scale, carbon-neutral eco-village pioneering low-energy living.
• Beijing National Stadium. “Bird’s Nest” Olympic venue.
• Bletchley Park restoration. Refurbishment of WWII codebreaking headquarters.
• British Museum WCEC. World Conservation & Exhibitions Centre for heritage preservation.
• Burj al Arab. Luxury icon in Dubai.
• Carlisle Cathedral. A medieval English cathedral.
• Casa Mila. Gaudí’s iconic Barcelona apartment block.
• Cathedral of Brasilia. Modernist landmark in Brazil.
• Centre Pompidou. Paris’ modernist museum.
• Clifton Suspension Bridge. Historic civil engineering icon in Bristol.
• CN Tower. Landmark communications tower in Toronto.
• Cologne Cathedral. Germany’s soaring Gothic landmark.
• Eiffel Tower. the Parisian symbol.
• Empire State Building. One of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world.
• Flatiron Building. One of the most famous historic landmarks in New York
• Florence Cathedral. Italian Renaissance masterpiece.
• Grenfell Tower. Nation-altering building tragedy.
• Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. Frank Gehry's iconic modern building.
• Hagia Sophia. Iconic Istanbul basilica.
• Heathrow Terminal 5. Designed to handle 35 million passengers a year.
• Leadenhall building. The cheesegrater - a new addition to the London skyline.
• Leaning Tower of Pisa. Glorious lean in Italy.
• Library of Celsus. Ancient Ephesus landmark.
• Lloyd's of London. Seminal Richard Rogers building.
• London 2012 Olympic Stadium. An innovative design of permanent and temporary structures.
• Magdeburg Cathedral. Gothic landmark in Germany.
• Millennium Dome. In iconic festival structure for London 2000.
• Notre-Dame de Paris. the famed Gothic cathedral.
• Palace of Westminster. UK Parliament building.
• Pantheon. Rome’s classical dome.
• Parthenon. Ancient Athens temple.
• Roman Colosseum. Ancient Rome’s amphitheater.
• Royal Albert Hall. London concert venue.
• Sagrada Familia. Gaudí’s unfinished basilica in Barcelona.
• Space Needle. Seattle’s futuristic icon.
• St Paul’s Cathedral. London’s iconic domed church.
• St Peter’s Basilica. Vatican’s monumental church.
• Taj Mahal. one of the world’s architectural wonders (linked via Cathedral article).
• The Gherkin. A landmark London office building with energy-efficient design
• The Iron Bridge. first iron bridge in the world.
• The Restoration of Big Ben. Conservation of the Elizabeth Tower.
• Tianjin Binhai Library. Striking library project in China celebrated for its architectural ambition
• Wembley Stadium. UK’s sporting coliseum.

All case study articles

There are around 1,500 building and case study articles on Designing Buildings. A full index is available here.

You can access our other subject-specific knowledge hubs here.

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