The Laing O'Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology is pleased to welcome William F. Baker as a Visiting Research Fellow for the 2014/15 academic year.  In addition to working with the Centre, he will also be a Visiting Fellow at King's College during the Michaelmas term. 

Recently elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering, William F. Baker is the structural engineering partner for SOM, based in its Chicago office.  Throughout his career he has dedicated himself to extending the profession of structural engineering through design, research, teaching and professional activities.

While widely regarded for his work on super-tall buildings, one of his best known contributions has been to develop the "buttressed core" structural system for the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest man-made structure.  His expertise also extends to long-span roof structures, such as the Korean Airlines Operations Hangar.

His many accolades from his involvement with many professional organisations and higher education establishments include: receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Stuttgart; an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh; an ASCE Outstanding Projects and Leaders Lifetime Award for Design and the Fazlur Rahman Kahn Medal from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.  Baker was also the first American to receive the Fritz Leonhardt Preis (Germany) and is one of only three living Americans to receive the Gold Medal from the Institution of Structural Engineers.

If you would like to contact William during his time with us, please do so via our departmental administrator, Anne Debenham: sec@construction.cam.ac.uk