William F. Baker P.E., S.E., FIStructE, Structural Engineering Partner at
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) will be recognized with the Gold Medal from
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) for his work as an
internationally acclaimed structural engineer. Founded in 1908 and headquartered
in the United Kingdom, IStructE is the world’s largest membership organization
dedicated to the art and science of structural engineering.
Bill Baker with Burj Khalifa. Photo: SOM
In response to receiving the news, Baker commented, “I am quite overwhelmed
by the honor of receiving the Gold Medal. I am humbled to be recognized by my
peers and to be in the company of some of the greatest structural engineers of
the modern age.”
The Gold Medal is he Institution’s highest individual award for ‘exceptional
and outstanding contributions to the advancement of structural engineering.’ The
award was first presented in 1922 to Professor Henry Adams. Previous winners of
the Gold Medal include Felix Candela (1960), Luigi Nervi (1967), Ove Arup
(1973), Fritz Leonhardt (1975), Jorg Schlaich (1990), Edmund Happold (1991),
Anthony Hunt (1994), Michel Virlogeux (1996), Ian Liddell (1999), Leslie
Robertson (2004) and David Nethercot (2009).
Throughout his distinguished career, Baker has dedicated himself to
structural innovation – most notably in the design of tall buildings. His most
recent contribution has been to develop the “buttressed core” structural system
for the Burj Khalifa, a system which, in conjunction with sophisticated wind
engineering, makes it possible to construct skyscrapers of extreme elevation.
The Burj Khalifa is currently the world’s tallest manmade structure.
According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), three
of the five tallest buildings to top out in 2009 are credited to SOM where Baker
led the structural engineering: Burj Khalifa (Dubai), Nanjing Greenland
Financial Center (Nanjing), and Trump International Hotel & Tower (Chicago).
Other notable projects include the Broadgate Exchange House (London), Korean
Air Lines Operations Center (Seoul), Infinity Tower (Dubai), General Motors
Renaissance Center – North Lobby (Detroit) and Raspberry Island – Schubert Club
Band Shell (St. Paul).
In 2008, Baker received the Fazlur Rahman Khan Medal for lifetime achievement
from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. In 2009, he was the first
American to receive the Fritz Leonhardt Prize (Germany) in recognition of his
engineering accomplishments.
Baker will give his Gold Medal Address at the Institution of Structural
Engineers/IABSE Lecture on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at the Institute of Directors,
London.
Read more on Burj Khalifa's Opening
Further Information:
web: www.som.com
web: www.istructe.org
