Thomas Christian Kavanagh
Encyclopedia
Thomas Christian Kavanagh (August 17, 1912 - May 23, 1978) was a noted American civil engineer
and educator, and a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
, serving as its first treasurer from 1964-1974.
Kavanagh was born in New York City
. His father, Patrick F. Kavanagh, was an Irish immigrant and laborer and electrical worker for a New York city streetcar company; his mother, Anna C. Unger, came from Germany. He attended the Technical University of Berlin
for one year, received him B.S. and Master of Civil Engineering degrees from the City College of New York
, and his Master of Business Administration
degree in finance and science doctorate from New York University
. He then started work as a structural designer for engineering firms in New York and Pennsylvania on railway and highway bridges, sanitary plants, power plants, electrical transmission towers, waterfront structures, floating docks, and refineries, and during World War II
was an aircraft engineer.
After the war, he became assistant professor of civil engineering at New York University
(NYU) for several years, then full professor at Pennsylvania State University
and in 1948 head of its Structures Department. In 1952 he returned to NYU as chairman of its Department of Civil Engineering. In 1953 he began consulting for Praeger & Maguire, which was renamed Praeger-Kavanagh when he became partner, and later Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury. While consulting, he continued as adjunct professor at NYU until 1956, and at Columbia University
thereafter. In 1975 Kavanagh joined Louis Berger International as vice president, and in 1976 he founded another consulting firm, Iffland Kavanagh Waterbury, remaining a partner until his death.
Kavanagh was responsible for several major engineering projects, including the Arecibo radio telescope
in Puerto Rico
, the Hawkins Point Floating Bridge on the St. Lawrence River, plans for the Caracas
(Venezuela
) subway system, and the Long Island Sound
bridge crossing. He was a member of twenty professional societies, and chaired twenty different professional working groups. Among his many honors he received the Ernest E. Howard Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers
; the David Steinman Medal for Structural Engineering from the City College of New York
; the Gold Medal of the Architectural League of New York
; and an Honorary Life Membership in the New York Academy of Sciences
.
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and educator, and a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, serving as its first treasurer from 1964-1974.
Kavanagh was born 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...
. His father, Patrick F. Kavanagh, was an Irish immigrant and laborer and electrical worker for a New York city streetcar company; his mother, Anna C. Unger, came from Germany. He attended the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
for one year, received him B.S. and Master of Civil Engineering degrees from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, and his Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree in finance and science doctorate from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He then started work as a structural designer for engineering firms in New York and Pennsylvania on railway and highway bridges, sanitary plants, power plants, electrical transmission towers, waterfront structures, floating docks, and refineries, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was an aircraft engineer.
After the war, he became assistant professor of civil engineering at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU) for several years, then full professor at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and in 1948 head of its Structures Department. In 1952 he returned to NYU as chairman of its Department of Civil Engineering. In 1953 he began consulting for Praeger & Maguire, which was renamed Praeger-Kavanagh when he became partner, and later Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury. While consulting, he continued as adjunct professor at NYU until 1956, and at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
thereafter. In 1975 Kavanagh joined Louis Berger International as vice president, and in 1976 he founded another consulting firm, Iffland Kavanagh Waterbury, remaining a partner until his death.
Kavanagh was responsible for several major engineering projects, including the Arecibo radio telescope
Arecibo Observatory
The Arecibo Observatory is a radio telescope near the city of Arecibo in Puerto Rico. It is operated by SRI International under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, the Hawkins Point Floating Bridge on the St. Lawrence River, plans for the Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
(Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) subway system, and the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
bridge crossing. He was a member of twenty professional societies, and chaired twenty different professional working groups. Among his many honors he received the Ernest E. Howard Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
; the David Steinman Medal for Structural Engineering from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
; the Gold Medal of the Architectural League of New York
Architectural League of New York
The Architectural League of New York is a non-profit organization "for creative and intellectual work in architecture, urbanism, and related disciplines"....
; and an Honorary Life Membership in the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
.