Gunvald Aus
Encyclopedia
Gunvald Aus, also written Aas (May 30, 1851 – May 27, 1950) was a Norwegian-American engineer. He is most associated with the engineering of the Woolworth Building
in New York City
.
He was born the son of Gabriel Godfrey Aas and Sophie Schroeder in Haugesund
in the county of Rogaland
, Norway
. He was educated at the Bergen Technical School (now Norwegian University of Science and Technology
(1879). He graduated from the Technical University of Munich
(1882). He was then hired in the Norwegian Directorate of Public Roads as an assistant to Road Director Hans Hagerup Krag
, but left for the United States in 1883. Initially he was employed by railroad and highway bridge designer Theodore Cooper
.
Having worked in different companies, including the Phoenix Bridge Company, he was hired as chief engineer in the United States Department of the Treasury
. In 1902, he started his own consulting business in New York City
. The Gusvald Aus Company completed the engineering work for a number of projects including Harkness Memorial Quadrangle
at Yale University
, the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul
and the Library building at Northwestern University
. Together is Kort Berle, he later was involved in the construction of the Woolworth Building
.
He had become an American citizen in 1892 but in 1915 he returned to Norway. He served for a period as a local politician in Asker
. He was a member of the district government from 1923-1928. He died in Asker in 1950.
Woolworth Building
The Woolworth Building is one of the oldest skyscrapers in New York City. More than a century after the start of its construction, it remains, at 57 stories, one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States as well as one of the twenty tallest buildings in New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He was born the son of Gabriel Godfrey Aas and Sophie Schroeder in Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
in the county of Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He was educated at the Bergen Technical School (now Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
(1879). He graduated from the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
(1882). He was then hired in the Norwegian Directorate of Public Roads as an assistant to Road Director Hans Hagerup Krag
Hans Hagerup Krag
Hans Hagerup Krag was a Norwegian engineer.He was hired as an engineer in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 1852, and served as director of the Norwegian Directorate of Public Roads from 1874 to 1903. Also, together with Thomas Heftye he founded the Norwegian Mountain Touring...
, but left for the United States in 1883. Initially he was employed by railroad and highway bridge designer Theodore Cooper
Theodore Cooper
Theodore Cooper was an American civil engineer. He may be best known as supervising engineer on the Quebec Bridge when it collapsed in 1907....
.
Having worked in different companies, including the Phoenix Bridge Company, he was hired as chief engineer in the United States Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
. In 1902, he started his own consulting business in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The Gusvald Aus Company completed the engineering work for a number of projects including Harkness Memorial Quadrangle
Memorial Quadrangle
The Memorial Quadrangle at Yale University, USA, was donated by Anna M. Harkness with Harkness Tower named in memory of her son, Charles Harkness, Yale Class of 1883. Commissioned from James Gamble Rogers to supply much-needed student housing, the Quadrangle now consists of Saybrook College and...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
and the Library building at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Together is Kort Berle, he later was involved in the construction of the Woolworth Building
Woolworth Building
The Woolworth Building is one of the oldest skyscrapers in New York City. More than a century after the start of its construction, it remains, at 57 stories, one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States as well as one of the twenty tallest buildings in New York City...
.
He had become an American citizen in 1892 but in 1915 he returned to Norway. He served for a period as a local politician in Asker
Asker
Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
. He was a member of the district government from 1923-1928. He died in Asker in 1950.
Other sources
- Saga in Steel and Concrete – Norwegian Engineers in America (Kenneth Bjork. Northfield, Minnesota: Norwegian-American Historical Association. 1947)
- Engineering Design of the Woolworth Building (American Architect. nr. 2. pages 157–170. 1913)