Abstract

Our collective achievement as structural engineers has often been measured by how far, how long or how tall we can go. As advances in technology and understanding open up opportunities to reach further and higher, our creativity and problem-solving abilities are increasing consumed by the technical challenges of simply getting from A to B. At these structural frontiers, the engineer, above all others is charged with finding the right design solutions – it is a great place to work.

Chris will talk about a number of the projects he has been lucky enough to be involved with as a young engineer. These include detailed design of two of the world’s longest suspension bridges; the 3,300 m bridge across the Messina Strait between Italy and Sicily; and the 1,550 m Izmit Bay suspension bridge which will cross the Sea of Marmara, 50 km south of Istanbul and close to the highly seismic North Anatolian Fault.