Zone 5 holds artifacts of every scale – from the most intricate glasswork to steel structures that helped create one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The Golden Gate Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge until 1964, and the tallest until 1993. At 1.7 miles long and 90 feet wide it connects San Francisco with Marin County, California, and remains a world-class and instantly recognizable feat of engineering. Less well-known, however, are the visionary people who used Skills and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to bring their vision to life.
To build a structure of this size and scale would have been impossible without STEM. Construction began on the bridge in 1933 and took over four years and was supervised by Chief Engineer Joseph B Strauss. While the total number of people who worked on the bridge isn’t known, we do know something of the vast array of skills that went into its construction – using a workforce of designers, engineers, ironworkers, welders, painters, construction workers, and health and safety experts. Each one of these people would have needed to have drawn on their knowledge of STEM.
Take welding. This process of joining metals together requires a thorough understanding of the material properties of metals, including their chemical composition, to ensure the strength of the joining point exceeds the strength of the separate pieces of metal. The process and technology are each underpinned by the principles of STEM.
The partnership of skills and STEM has endured during the life of the Golden Gate Bridge. In the 1950’s the structure needed a seismic retrofit which was led by the skilled professionals at Lincoln Electric – welding specialists and WorldSkills Global Industry Partner. The renewal was essential because, over the years, ocean water had corroded the 100-square-foot concrete pylons that secured 24,500 tons of wire cables running through the bridge. The pylons were replaced with new concrete poured into a double-walled welded framework. A protective wear plate was welded in place for added resistance.
This was all back in 1953 and this multi-process, multi-pass welding operation was only possible thanks to a deep knowledge of STEM. It also required Lincoln Electric to develop new DC-600 welders that were put to work retrofitting the bridge. At the WorldSkills Museum, visitors can see photographs of the iconic DC-600 welders and even test their own welding skills in a virtual experience designed by Lincoln Electric.
The role of STEM in the world we have created is impossible to ignore. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics have helped us make things accurately, precisely, safely, and beautifully. Computing an angle to the exact degree, measuring materials to within a millimetre, or combining materials in perfect ratios can be the difference between the success and failure of a project. It is why many landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge are still standing today and it is the reason why we continue to design and discover new ideas in the future.