August Komendant
Encyclopedia
August E. Komendant was a structural engineer and a pioneer in the field of reinforced concrete, which can be used to build stronger and more graceful structures than normal concrete. He was born in Estonia
and earned a doctorate in engineering in Germany. After World War II he immigrated to the United States. He collaborated with noted architect Louis Kahn
on several architecturally significant buildings, including two that won the prestigious Twenty-five Year Award
given by the American Institute of Architects
.
. After earning a doctorate in engineering at the Technical Institute in Dresden, Germany, he returned to Estonia
where he was responsible for several major bridges and other structures.
After Germany overran Estonia during World War II, Komendant was shipped back to Germany to work on war projects. He was interned by the U.S. Army in the latter stages of the war and was recruited by General George Patton
to work for him. According to Komendant, when Patton ordered him to inspect a damaged bridge to see if it would support the weight of his tanks, Komendant used a brush and white paint to mark a wavy route across the bridge that tanks could safely follow and then rode across the bridge with Patton. After the war he was assigned to work for the U.S. Army rebuilding war-damaged bridges.
In 1950, Komendant immigrated to the U.S. and set up a consulting practice in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. In 1952, based on his experience with developing techniques for using pre-stressed concrete to rebuild war-damaged bridges, he published Prestressed Concrete Structures, a book that established him as an authority on the subject. Komendant was fond of explaining how pre-stressed concrete works by demonstrating that one can lift a row of books by squeezing them so tightly that they act as a single strong unit. Similarly, if hydraulic tensioning is first used to "stretch" reinforcing cables or bars within a wet concrete mixture, they can be used to "squeeze" the concrete tightly when the hydraulic force is released after the concrete has cured, making it much stronger than it otherwise would be. This type of concrete can be used to build structures that are lighter, more graceful, and in a much greater variety of shapes than standard concrete.
In 1956 he met architect Louis Kahn
and began a contentious but highly productive collaboration that lasted until Kahn's death 18 years later. With Komendant as his most important collaborator, Kahn went on to become one of the greatest architects of the century. Two of the structures they collaborated on, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
and the Kimbell Art Museum
, won the prestigious Twenty-five Year Award
given by the American Institute of Architects
.
Komendant was Professor of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1974 and visiting professor at the Pratt Institute in the late 1970s.
According to his obituary in the New York Times, Komendant was awarded an unspecified medal by the American Institute of Architects
(AIA) in 1978 for "inspiring or influencing the architectural profession". This was probably the AIA's Allied Professions Medal: in his book 18 years with Architect Louis I. Kahn, Komendant reproduced a letter that Kahn wrote to the AIA in 1973 recommending that Komendant be honored with that award.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and earned a doctorate in engineering in Germany. After World War II he immigrated to the United States. He collaborated with noted architect Louis Kahn
Louis Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935...
on several architecturally significant buildings, including two that won the prestigious Twenty-five Year Award
Twenty-five Year Award
The Twenty-five Year Award is an architecture prize awarded by the American Institute of Architects to buildings and structures that have "stood the test of time for 25 to 35 years", and that "[exemplify] design of enduring significance." The project receiving the award can be located anywhere in...
given by the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
.
Life
August E. Komendant was born in 1906 in EstoniaEstonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. After earning a doctorate in engineering at the Technical Institute in Dresden, Germany, he returned to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
where he was responsible for several major bridges and other structures.
After Germany overran Estonia during World War II, Komendant was shipped back to Germany to work on war projects. He was interned by the U.S. Army in the latter stages of the war and was recruited by General George Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
to work for him. According to Komendant, when Patton ordered him to inspect a damaged bridge to see if it would support the weight of his tanks, Komendant used a brush and white paint to mark a wavy route across the bridge that tanks could safely follow and then rode across the bridge with Patton. After the war he was assigned to work for the U.S. Army rebuilding war-damaged bridges.
In 1950, Komendant immigrated to the U.S. and set up a consulting practice in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. In 1952, based on his experience with developing techniques for using pre-stressed concrete to rebuild war-damaged bridges, he published Prestressed Concrete Structures, a book that established him as an authority on the subject. Komendant was fond of explaining how pre-stressed concrete works by demonstrating that one can lift a row of books by squeezing them so tightly that they act as a single strong unit. Similarly, if hydraulic tensioning is first used to "stretch" reinforcing cables or bars within a wet concrete mixture, they can be used to "squeeze" the concrete tightly when the hydraulic force is released after the concrete has cured, making it much stronger than it otherwise would be. This type of concrete can be used to build structures that are lighter, more graceful, and in a much greater variety of shapes than standard concrete.
In 1956 he met architect Louis Kahn
Louis Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935...
and began a contentious but highly productive collaboration that lasted until Kahn's death 18 years later. With Komendant as his most important collaborator, Kahn went on to become one of the greatest architects of the century. Two of the structures they collaborated on, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is a premier independent, non-profit, scientific research institute located in La Jolla, California. It was founded in 1960 by Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine; among the founding consultants were Jacob Bronowski and Francis Crick. Building...
and the Kimbell Art Museum
Kimbell Art Museum
The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, hosts a small but excellent art collection as well as traveling art exhibitions, educational programs and an extensive research library. Its initial artwork came from the private collection of Kay and Velma Kimbell, who also provided funds for a new...
, won the prestigious Twenty-five Year Award
Twenty-five Year Award
The Twenty-five Year Award is an architecture prize awarded by the American Institute of Architects to buildings and structures that have "stood the test of time for 25 to 35 years", and that "[exemplify] design of enduring significance." The project receiving the award can be located anywhere in...
given by the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
.
Komendant was Professor of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1974 and visiting professor at the Pratt Institute in the late 1970s.
Publications and awards
Komendant was the author of several books, including:- Prestressed Concrete Structures, 1952
- Contemporary Concrete Structures, 1972
- 18 years with Architect Louis I. Kahn, 1975
- Practical Structural Analysis for Architectural Engineering, 1987
According to his obituary in the New York Times, Komendant was awarded an unspecified medal by the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
(AIA) in 1978 for "inspiring or influencing the architectural profession". This was probably the AIA's Allied Professions Medal: in his book 18 years with Architect Louis I. Kahn, Komendant reproduced a letter that Kahn wrote to the AIA in 1973 recommending that Komendant be honored with that award.