The Eden Project was built over a period of about 2½ years, with construction starting in 1998. It officially opened to the public on March 17, 2001. The project transformed a disused clay pit in Cornwall, England, into a complex of large biomes housing rainforest and Mediterranean plants, with the entire facility designed by Grimshaw Architects. The construction involved intensive engineering efforts, including the use of 230 miles of scaffolding, and required meticulous planning due to the challenging site conditions. The total cost of the project was around £141 million.