A bridge measuring 100 feet and made entirely from Meccano has set a world record for the largest Meccano Structure in the World.

The Big Bridge Build, a year-long project, is the brainchild of the University’s School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering. Academics and students created the bridge, with the help of local school children, as part of the university’s outreach programme to encourage more children to think about careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The Bridge is on display as a temporary installation in Belfast’s Clarendon Dock, where hundreds turned out on Saturday to marvel at the construction as they waited to hear the official announcement.

The project was made possible with the help of Spin Master Corp., the owner and producer of Meccano, as well as McLaughlin & Harvey and Aecom who gave valuable advice to the students as well as assisting with the construction and installation of the bridge across the Clarendon Dock.

The students celebrated their achievement by walking across the bridge for the first time, which was officially declared open by Meccano’s Meccanoid Robot.

The project has also attracted the interest of some notable figures, including Dame Athene Donald, (next President of the British Science Association) Lord Richard Rogers (world renowned architect) and Kevin McCloud (Grand Designs) who all sent messages of support.

Speaking about the achievement Danny McPolin, Senior Structures Lecturer at Queen’s School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, said: “This event has been a fantastic way to celebrate the student and staff’s incredible work over the past year, but also a chance to show local children more about the exciting courses we offer here at the Queen’s University.”

He added: “With a growing skill shortage in Civil engineering, we hope that our work will encourage more children to consider the study of civil engineering and other STEM subjects at University level.”

Ben Varadi, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Spin Master Corp., said: “We are truly in awe of this remarkable achievement. Spin Master is incredibly proud that this timeless and iconic toy, invented over a 100 years ago, continues to inspire the world’s future architects and engineers.”

John McCarey, chief engineer at McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd, added: “It has been a pleasure to work with Queen’s to support these engineers of the future with this exciting project. We have been involved from the start of their world record attempt, providing them with a contractor’s insight and bringing our technical expertise to the very particular challenges of this brilliant third year design project. To gain the World Record is the icing on the cake!”

Key bridge stats:

Overall length of bridge - 28.76m

Longest span of bridge - 18m

Height of bridge – 6.25m

Weight of bridge - 600kg

Design capacity - 100kg

Total length of Meccano – 3,835m

Number of pieces of Meccano - 11,000 (excluding nuts and bolts)