Edmund Happold
Encyclopedia
Professor Sir Edmund Happold (1930 - 12 January 1996), better known as Ted Happold, was a structural engineer and founder of Buro Happold
.
. His mother was a lifelong socialist. A lifelong Quaker, he registered as a conscientious objector
when called to do National Service
, and was directed to work as an agricultural labourer and then truck driver and dragline operator. This aroused his interest in construction, so he returned to Leeds University, where he achieved a BSc in Civil Engineering in 1957. After graduation, he spent a short time in the office of Alvar Aalto
before joining Ove Arup and Partners on the recommendation of architect Basil Spence
. At Ove Arup and Partners he worked with Povl Ahm
, engineer for St Michael's Cathedral in Coventry
. Happold studied architecture in the evenings.
In 1959 Happold moved to work with Fred Severud ([ a civil engineer whose work included the structural design of Madison Square Garden and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis;died June 1990 in Miami Florida]) (engineer for Eero Saarinen
) in New York, before returning to work with Ove Arup and Partners in 1961.
After becoming the head of Structures 3 at Ove Arup and Partners in 1967, he worked on such landmark buildings as the Sydney Opera House
and the Pompidou Centre, of which Richard Rogers said at a lecture at Bath University: 'Of course, it was all Ted's idea'.
He collaborated with Frei Otto
, setting up a laboratory to study lightweight tensile structure
s with Ian Liddell
, Vera Straka, Peter Rice
and Michael Dickson
.
Leaving Arup in 1976, after Arup refused to allow him to start an office in Bath, he became professor of Architecture and Engineering Design at the University of Bath
and founded Buro Happold
with seven colleagues. He helped set up the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology at Bath, as well as a research group in air-supported structures.
He was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry, a member of the Design Council
, Vice-President of the Royal Society of Arts
, and Master of the Royal Designer for Industry. He also founded the Building Industry Council, later to become the Construction Industry Council
, and was President of the Institution of Structural Engineers
in 1986-87. He died at his home in Bath whilst waiting for a heart transplant.
Buro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
.
Career
Happold was the son of Frank Happold, Professor of Biochemistry at Leeds University. After a grammar school education he studied geology at the University of LeedsUniversity of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. His mother was a lifelong socialist. A lifelong Quaker, he registered as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
when called to do National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, and was directed to work as an agricultural labourer and then truck driver and dragline operator. This aroused his interest in construction, so he returned to Leeds University, where he achieved a BSc in Civil Engineering in 1957. After graduation, he spent a short time in the office of Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
before joining Ove Arup and Partners on the recommendation of architect Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
. At Ove Arup and Partners he worked with Povl Ahm
Povl Ahm
Povl Ahm CBE FICE FREng was an eminent structural engineer and former chairman of Ove Arup & Partners.-Life:...
, engineer for St Michael's Cathedral in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. Happold studied architecture in the evenings.
In 1959 Happold moved to work with Fred Severud ([ a civil engineer whose work included the structural design of Madison Square Garden and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis;died June 1990 in Miami Florida]) (engineer for Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
) in New York, before returning to work with Ove Arup and Partners in 1961.
After becoming the head of Structures 3 at Ove Arup and Partners in 1967, he worked on such landmark buildings as the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and the Pompidou Centre, of which Richard Rogers said at a lecture at Bath University: 'Of course, it was all Ted's idea'.
He collaborated with Frei Otto
Frei Otto
Frei Paul Otto is a German architect and structural engineer.- Life :Otto was born in Siegmar . He studied architecture in Berlin before being drafted into the Luftwaffe as a fighter pilot in the last years of World War II...
, setting up a laboratory to study lightweight tensile structure
Tensile structure
A tensile structure is a construction of elements carrying only tension and no compression or bending. The term tensile should not be confused with tensegrity, which is a structural form with both tension and compression elements....
s with Ian Liddell
Ian Liddell
William Ian Liddell CBE FREng FIStructE Hon FRIBA is a structural engineer and the designer of London's Millennium Dome. He was one of the founding partners of Buro Happold and is a Royal Academy Visiting Professor of Engineering Design at Cambridge University School of Engineering...
, Vera Straka, Peter Rice
Peter Rice
Peter Rice was an Irish structural engineer.Born in 52 Brigid Street, Dundalk in County Louth, he spent his childhood between the town of Dundalk, and the villages of Gyles' Quay and Inniskeen. He was educated at the Queen's University of Belfast where he received his primary degree, and spent a...
and Michael Dickson
Michael Dickson (engineer)
Professor Michael Dickson CBE BA MS FREng FIStructE FICE HonFRIBA FRSA is a structural engineer and a founding partner of Buro Happold...
.
Leaving Arup in 1976, after Arup refused to allow him to start an office in Bath, he became professor of Architecture and Engineering Design at the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
and founded Buro Happold
Buro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
with seven colleagues. He helped set up the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology at Bath, as well as a research group in air-supported structures.
He was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry, a member of the Design Council
Design Council
The Design Council is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a charity.Registered charity number 272099.- In the beginning :The Design Council started in 1944 as the Council of Industrial Design...
, Vice-President of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, and Master of the Royal Designer for Industry. He also founded the Building Industry Council, later to become the Construction Industry Council
Construction Industry Council
The Construction Industry Council is the representative body for the professional bodies, research organizations and specialist business associations in the construction industry in the United Kingdom...
, and was President of the Institution of Structural Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
The Institution of Structural Engineers is a professional body for structural engineering based in the United Kingdom. It has 27,000 members in 105 countries. The Institution provides professional accreditation for structural engineers...
in 1986-87. He died at his home in Bath whilst waiting for a heart transplant.
Awards
Amongst other awards, he received the Guthrie Brown Medal in 1970, the Eiffel Medal from the Ecole Centrale de Paris, the Kerensky Medal from the International Association for Bridge and Structural design, and the IStructE Gold Medal in 1991. He was knighted in 1994 for his services to engineering, architecture and education.Selected projects
- Bootham SchoolBootham SchoolBootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
, 1964 - Riyadh Conference Centre, 1967
- Hyde Park Barracks, LondonHyde Park Barracks, LondonThe Hyde Park Barracks are located in Knightsbridge in central London, U.K. on the southern edge of Hyde Park. Historically they were often known as Knightsbridge Barracks and this name is still sometimes used informally...
, 1970 - Pompidou Centre, 1971–1977
- Aviary at Tierpark HellabrunnTierpark HellabrunnHellabrunn Zoo is a zoological garden in the Bavarian capital of Munich. The zoo is situated on the right bank of the river Isar, in the southern part of Munich near the quarter of Thalkirchen...
, Munich, 1978–1982 - Hooke Park, Dorset, 1985–1991