William LeMessurier
Encyclopedia
William James LeMessurier (icon; 1926 – June 14, 2007 Casco, Maine
) was a prominent American structural engineer
.
Born in Pontiac, Michigan
, LeMessurier graduated with an AB
from Harvard
, went to Harvard Graduate School of Design
and then earned a master's degree
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1953. He was the founder and chairman of LeMessurier Consultants
. He was awarded the AIA Allied Professions Medal in 1968, elected to the National Academy of Engineering
in 1978, elected an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects
in 1988, and elected an honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE) in 1989.
While responsible for the structural engineering on a large number of prominent buildings, including Boston City Hall
, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
, the Singapore Treasury Building and Dallas Main Center
, LeMessurier is perhaps best known for a structural controversy. As the result of the questions of a student, LeMessurier re-assessed his calculations on the Citicorp headquarters tower
in New York City
in 1977, after the building had already been finished, and found that the building was more vulnerable than originally thought (in part due to cost-saving changes made to the original plan by the contractor). This triggered a hurried, clandestine retrofit described in a celebrated article in The New Yorker
, "The Fifty-Nine-Story Crisis," which is now used as an ethical case-study.
Casco, Maine
Farmers found the surface of the town uneven, its hard and rocky soil "tolerably productive." Outlets of ponds, however, provided Casco with good sites for water powered mills. The town had four sawmills, four gristmills, a shook mill, a barrel stave mill, four shingle factories, a carriage factory...
) was a prominent American structural engineer
Structural engineer
Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants...
.
Born in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, LeMessurier graduated with an AB
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, went to Harvard Graduate School of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
and then earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1953. He was the founder and chairman of LeMessurier Consultants
LeMessurier Consultants
LeMessurier Consultants is a Cambridge, Massachusetts firm, founded by William LeMessurier in 1961. It provides engineering support services to architects and construction firms. They focus on advanced structural techniques and impacts to construction materials...
. He was awarded the AIA Allied Professions Medal in 1968, elected to 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...
in 1978, elected an honorary member of 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...
in 1988, and elected an honorary member of 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...
(ASCE) in 1989.
While responsible for the structural engineering on a large number of prominent buildings, including Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall is the seat of the municipal government of Boston, Massachusetts. Architecturally, it is an example of the brutalist style. It was designed by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles...
, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, commonly known as the Boston Fed, is responsible for the First District of the Federal Reserve, which covers most of Connecticut , Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. It is headquartered in the Federal Reserve Bank Building in Boston,...
, the Singapore Treasury Building and Dallas Main Center
Bank of America Plaza (Dallas)
Bank of America Plaza is a 72-story late-modernist skyscraper located in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas, Texas. Standing at a structural height of , it is the tallest skyscraper in the city of Dallas. It is also the 3rd tallest in Texas and the 22nd tallest in the United States, while...
, LeMessurier is perhaps best known for a structural controversy. As the result of the questions of a student, LeMessurier re-assessed his calculations on the Citicorp headquarters tower
Citigroup Center
The Citigroup Center is one of the ten tallest skyscrapers in New York City, United States, located at 53rd Street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue in midtown Manhattan...
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...
in 1977, after the building had already been finished, and found that the building was more vulnerable than originally thought (in part due to cost-saving changes made to the original plan by the contractor). This triggered a hurried, clandestine retrofit described in a celebrated article in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, "The Fifty-Nine-Story Crisis," which is now used as an ethical case-study.
External links
- LeMessurier's website
- Boston Globe William LeMessurier Obituary
- Brief Slate article on the Citicorp building
- Article about the potential problem caused by poor decisions made by contractors working on the Citicorp building.
- MIT article
- OnlineEthics.org article
- (Re)examining the Citicorp Case: Ethical Paragon or Chimera