Princeton University

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Author(s): Maria Garlock and David P. Billington

Institution(s): Princeton University

Description: The course focuses on structural engineering as a new art form begun during the Industrial Revolution and flourishing today in long-span bridges, thin sheet concrete vaults, and tall buildings. Through critical analysis of major works students are introduced to the methods of evaluating structures as an art form. Students study the works and ideas of individual structural artists through their elementary calculations, their builder's mentality and their aesthetic imagination. Students examine contemporary exemplars that are essential to the understanding of 21st century structuring of cities with illustrations taken from various cities. The course has a website with more information.

Syllabus: These lectures are listed in the order given as part of the Princeton Course per the Syllabus

Lectures

Introduction to Structural Art
Bridges
Buildings
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Origins of Structural Art: Telford, Brunel, and British Metal Forms
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Eiffel Tower and the Washington Monument
Buildings
Structural Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Princeton University
Eiffel's Bridges, Eads Bridge, and Baker's Firth of Forth Bridge
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Othmar Ammann and the Bayonne Bridge and George Washington Bridge
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Wind, Suspension Bridges, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Golden Gate Bridge
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Origins of Reinforced Concrete: Robert Maillart
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Origins of Prestressing: Freyssinet, Magnel, and Finsterwalder
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
New Bridge Forms: Christian Menn
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Politics of the Art of Spanish Bridge Design
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Finding Forms: Laurent Ney
Bridges
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
New Bridge Forms: Jörg Schlaich and his Team
Bridges
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The Gothic Cathedral and the Skyscraper
Buildings
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Fazlur Khan and Concrete Buildings
Buildings
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Baker, Khan and the SOM Tradition of Structural Art in Buildings
Buildings
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Earthquakes and Ethics
Buildings
Civil Engineering
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
The German vs. Spanish Tradition of Thin-Shell Roof Forms
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Félix Candela and the Hyperbolic Paraboloid
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Heinz Isler and "Natural" Forms for Shells
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University
Pier Luigi Nervi and the Italian Tradition of Ribbed Vaults
Vaults
Structural Engineering
Princeton University