How did the largest machine invented end up underground? Or was it built there in the first place?

Question: How did the largest machine invented end up underground? Or was it built there in the first place?
- Keywords:
  cern,
  lhc,
  location
Asked by bubbles10 to Ben on 12 Mar 2012.
- Ben Smart answered on 12 Mar 2012:
  
  We built it there 🙂
  It’s called the Large Hadron Collider, and it’s more than 5 miles wide.
  Part of the reason we built it underground was because it was cheaper to dig tunnels and build it there instead of buying all the land we would have needed to build it on the surface. Also, when we switch it on it becomes radioactive, so we built it underground to protect everyone from the radioactivity.

Question: How did the largest machine invented end up underground? Or was it built there in the first place?