THE TEST OF TIME

摘要

It is rare to find a construction job that produces such an enormous sense of pride among the project team. The team working on the renovation of the Elizabeth Tower, the building popularly known as Big Ben, universally kick off a conversation about the project by saying what an honour it is to work on such an internationally famous architectural icon. "It's the most iconic building in the world for me," enthuses Nick Sturge, project manager for the special projects arm of contractor Sir Robert Alpine, by way of example. "It's such a privilege to be able to call this my office. When you talk about this job with friends and family they are really interested - usually when I talk about work their eyes glaze over." The Elizabeth Tower is one of London's most instantly recognizable icons and is one of the top 10 most Instagrammed places in the world. Completed in 1854, the 96m high, neo-gothic tower is the work of architect Charles Barry who added a clock tower to his final designs for the Palace of Westminster reconstruction after it burnt down in 1834.