The New Art of Structural Engineering

Structural engineers have a rich tradition of creativity, especially since the Industrial Revolution when new materials made possible new forms. This one-semester course seeks to introduce students to that tradition through studies of exemplary structures beginning with British iron bridges of the late 18th century and ending with late 20th century bridges, thin shell roofs, and tall buildings in steel and concrete. There are two large lectures per week for all the students together and one small class per week for groups of about 12 students each. This course was developed under grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ford, Rockefeller, Mellon, and Sloan Foundations.