Lehigh University: Fazlur Rahman Khan Distinguished Lecture Series

2007 Fazlur R. Khan
Distinguished Lecture Series

Honoring a legacy in structural engineering and architecture

Distinguished Lecturers

MARK P. SARKISIAN	MAN-CHUNG TANG	GENE CORLEY
Khan's Vision	Why? Why Not? What If?	Learning from the Attacks on an American Icon:World Trade Center Building Performance Study

MARK P. SARKISIAN

Lehigh Class of '85 (MS, Structural Engineering)
PE, SE, Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Khan's Vision
click here to view video

Friday, February 9th, 2007
4:10 P.M.

Sinclair Laboratory Auditorium

Overview:

This first presentation for Lehigh University's Dr. Fazlur Khan Lecture Series will explore Khan's creative vision of structural engineering through his work at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and the lasting impact that it has had on the profession.

Khan's innovation, especially related to tall building design, will be presented through his theories and project examples including Sears Tower, John Hancock Center, Chestnut Dewitt Tower, Onterie Center all located in Chicago as well as other projects in the United States and overseas. The current work of SOM that incorporates the fundamental concepts of Khan will be presented. The presentation will also draw upon current SOM architectural engineering projects that reflect Khan's vision and legacy by interpreing and expanding on his ideas.

MORE DETAILS available on Sarkisian's presentation.

MAN-CHUNG TANG

Chairman of the Board, T.Y. Lin International

Why? Why Not? What If?
click here to view video

Friday, March 16th, 2007
4:10 P.M.

Sinclair Laboratory Auditorium

Overview:

According to Dr. Man-Chung Tang, Chairman of the Board of T.Y. Lin International and honorary professor of Tsinghua, Tongji, Southeast, and other major universities, today's civilization is the accumulation of past innovations. As engineers, we must be innovative so tomorrow's world will be better

In this presentation, Dr. Tang explores the basis of innovation, starting s with the questions "Why?" and "Why not?" The question "Why?" gives us the opportunity to challenge the status quo. The question "Why not?" gives us the opportunity to introduce new ideas or overcome restrictions. The question "What if?" keeps us humble and conservative.

Dr. Tang received a doctorate of engineering degree from Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and an honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. A structural engineer whose work includes bridges, buildings and other types of structures, it is said that "the sun never sets on his bridges."

MORE DETAILS available on Dr. Tang's presentation.

GENE CORLEY

Senior Vice President, CTL Group

Learning from the Attacks on an American Icon:World Trade Center Building Performance Study
click here to view video

Friday, April 20th, 2007
4:10 P.M.

Sinclair Laboratory Auditorium

Overview:

The 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center Towers resulted in severe structural damage followed by extensive fires and complete collapse of three buildings, along with damage to other buildings by falling debris or fire. The American Society of Civil Engineers/Structural Engineering Institute immediately formed a Building Performance Study Team to learn how the buildings performed in this tragedy, Dr. Corley was asked to lead the team. This lecture describes the results of the study, and identifies approaches and other areas of study that could mitigate structural response to such severe conditions

For more than two decades, Dr. Corley has served as a researcher and consultant for building and bridge construction, and has authored over a hundred seventy articles and books dealing with the subject of structural design and behavior. Dr. Corley was Principal Investigator for the ASCE and FEMA on the investigation of the Oklahoma City Bombing and has done investigations of earthquake damage in Central America, South America, Japan, and California. Dr. Corley is an active member of the National Academy of Engineering, an Honorary Member of ASCE, and member of several other engineering societies. Currently he serves as President of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

MORE DETAILS availalable on Dr. Corley's presentation.

2007 Fazlur R. Khan Distinguished Lecture Series Announcement Flyer (PDF)

The Fazlur R. Khan Distinguished Lecture Series has been initiated and organized by Dan M. Frangopol, the first holder of Lehigh's Fazlur Rahman Khan Endowed Chair of Structural Engineering and Architecture.