International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Foundation
Anton Tedesco Fellowship
New York, NY (October 16, 2008) –
The IABSE Foundation Anton Tedesco Medal was awarded to Robert Silman as recognition of his life-long enthusiasm and contributions to the field of sustainable building. As the Anton Tedesco Awardee, Mr. Silman was given funding to conduct a research project in collaboration with a young engineer of his choosing. John Anderson was selected as the Anton Tedesco Fellow. Mr. Anderson’s past research in graduate school at UC Berkeley and as a Fulbright Fellow at the TU Berlin focused on sustainable building materials and the interplay between architecture and engineering in green building.
The research focus of the Anton Tedesco Fellowship was threefold. Firstly, the research sought to identify the role of the structural engineer within green building. The second goal was to conduct a Life Cycle Inventory of structural engineering design strategies in mitigating CO2 emissions. And finally, the third objective was to investigate the current relationship between green building and sustainable building.
The conclusions of the work found that the structural engineer has an active role in green building through the use of green design strategies. Further, the Life Cycle Inventory illustrated that the structural engineer can have a significant influence on the CO2 emissions of a building. The final topic, green building compared to sustainable building, found troubling indications that green building is not proceeding at a sufficient rate to ensure overall societal sustainability.
For a more in-depth summary of the work completed please see the following peer-reviewed articles presented below. Also please feel free to contact Mr. Anderson directly (anderson@silman.com) with comments or questions.
Anderson, J. and Silman, R., “The Role of the Structural Engineer within Green Building”, The Structural Engineer, The Institute of Structural Engineers, United Kingdom, (Forthcoming 2009)
Anderson, J. and Silman, R., “A Life Cycle Inventory of Structural Engineering Design Strategies”, Structural Engineering International, IABSE, Switzerland, (Forthcoming 2009)
UPCOMING RSA PROJECTS
The Whitney Museum of American Art Expansion project with architect Renzo Piano, in conjunction with local architects Cooper Robertson, is to be a 9-story tower adjacent to the existing 1966 historic landmark by Marcel Breuer. This design will double the size of the museum and includes a glass covered entry vestibule, small garden, and new lobby, with glass walkways connecting the 2 buildings.
Vietnam Memorial Education Visitor Center, Washington DC with Polshek Partnership The 25,000 sf structure likely be underground- dug into an elevated area near Maya Lin's minimalist Memorial so as not to interfere visually with the Memorial itself. Exhibits, which will encompass about 10,000 square-feet of the space will be designed by Ralph Applebaum and Associates. $40 M needs to be raised for construction, and completion is planned for 2008 or 2009.