Leslie Earl Robertson (Manhattan Beach "Manhattan Beach (California)"), February 12, 1928 - San Mateo "San Mateo (California)"), February 11, 2021) was an American engineer. He served as the lead structural engineer for the original World Trade Center Twin Towers (1973-2001) in New York. He was the structural engineer on many other projects, including the US Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong.
Early years
Robertson was born on February 12, 1928 in Manhattan Beach (California), California. Son of Tinabel (née Grantham) and Garnet Robertson.[2] His mother was a housewife, while his father had various jobs. His parents divorced when he was a child and he was raised by his father's second wife, Zelda (née Ziegel). He briefly enlisted in the Navy in 1945, at age seventeen. However, it was of no use.
He studied civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1952.[2].
Professional field
Robertson's engineering career began in 1952, when he joined Kaiser Engineering. He worked as a mathematician, structural engineer and as an electrical engineer during this time. He is also noted to have been part of the research team studying the collapse of an offshore drilling platform.[2] He later took a cross-country road trip to California, and later to Seattle, where he ran out of funds in 1958, and joined the Seattle-based civil and structural engineering firm Worthington and Skilling.
When Seattle-born American architect Minoru Yamasaki won the competition to design the World Trade Center, "World Trade Center (1973-2001)") Robertson and his firm Worthington, Skilling, Helle and Jackson (WSHJ) were awarded the engineering contract. Designed between 1966 and 1971, this was the firm and Robertson's first high-rise construction. His interactions with Yamasaki led to the conceptualization of the tube design for the buildings with exterior columns that were spaced two feet apart along the height of the building, specifically designed to provide a sense of enclosure for the people in the building. This also meant that, unlike most skyscrapers of the era which were supported by concrete or steel frames with columns interrupting the interiors, the WTC's design allowed for column-free interiors, with the weight handled by the exterior columns and steel and concrete cores. Steel trusses supported the floors and connected the exterior columns and central cores.
Leslie E. Robertson (Engineer)
Introduction
Leslie Earl Robertson (Manhattan Beach "Manhattan Beach (California)"), February 12, 1928 - San Mateo "San Mateo (California)"), February 11, 2021) was an American engineer. He served as the lead structural engineer for the original World Trade Center Twin Towers (1973-2001) in New York. He was the structural engineer on many other projects, including the US Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong.
Early years
Robertson was born on February 12, 1928 in Manhattan Beach (California), California. Son of Tinabel (née Grantham) and Garnet Robertson.[2] His mother was a housewife, while his father had various jobs. His parents divorced when he was a child and he was raised by his father's second wife, Zelda (née Ziegel). He briefly enlisted in the Navy in 1945, at age seventeen. However, it was of no use.
He studied civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1952.[2].
Professional field
Robertson's engineering career began in 1952, when he joined Kaiser Engineering. He worked as a mathematician, structural engineer and as an electrical engineer during this time. He is also noted to have been part of the research team studying the collapse of an offshore drilling platform.[2] He later took a cross-country road trip to California, and later to Seattle, where he ran out of funds in 1958, and joined the Seattle-based civil and structural engineering firm Worthington and Skilling.
When Seattle-born American architect Minoru Yamasaki won the competition to design the World Trade Center, "World Trade Center (1973-2001)") Robertson and his firm Worthington, Skilling, Helle and Jackson (WSHJ) were awarded the engineering contract. Designed between 1966 and 1971, this was the firm and Robertson's first high-rise construction. His interactions with Yamasaki led to the conceptualization of the tube design for the buildings with exterior columns that were spaced two feet apart along the height of the building, specifically designed to provide a sense of enclosure for the people in the building. This also meant that, unlike most skyscrapers of the era which were supported by concrete or steel frames with columns interrupting the interiors, the WTC's design allowed for column-free interiors, with the weight handled by the exterior columns and steel and concrete cores. Steel trusses supported the floors and connected the exterior columns and central cores.
In 1967, Robertson became a partner and the design firm was renamed Skilling, Helle, Christiansen, Robertson. The firm split its operations in 1982, and Robertson renamed the East Coast operations Leslie E. Robertson Associates RLLP. Robertson would retire from the partnership in 1994, but would continue to work for the company on projects until 2012.
In addition to the World Trade Center, he was involved in the structural engineering and design of skyscrapers, including the US Steel headquarters in Pittsburgh, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, which was designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, and the Puerta de Europa towers in Madrid. He had also designed the construction of museums in Seattle, Portland, Maine, and Berlin, as well as theaters and bridges. It was also noted that he structurally designed the installation of the works of the American sculptor Richard Serra.
Since the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, debates over the safety of maximized designs in rental space have involved the profession, but the consensus among architects and engineers is that the World Trade Center actually withstood the plane impact long enough to allow the safe evacuation of thousands of occupants. Robertson's firm later participated in the development of a database of basic structural information for the World Trade Center towers (WTC1 and 2) for NIST and FEMA,[7] and to record undocumented structural changes that had been made to buildings after construction began. His firm also stayed on for the structural engineering of the 4 World Trade Center building that arose in the same complex.
Personal life
Robertson was married to Elizabeth Zublin and later Sharon Hibino, and both marriages ended in divorce.[2] He married Saw-Teen See in 1982, an engineer who has also served as business manager of his architectural engineering practice, Leslie E. Robertson Associates (LERA).[8] He had four children, one of whom predeceased him.
Robertson died of blood cancer at his home in San Mateo "San Mateo (California"), California on February 11, 2021, one day before his 93rd birthday.[2].
[11] ↑ «松井源吾賞について» [About the Matsui Gengo Award]. Japan Structural Designers Club (en jp). Consultado el 11 de febrero de 2021.: http://www.jsdclub.jp/matsuigengoprize.html
[12] ↑ «Awards for exemplary achievements in the built environment». National Building Museum (en inglés estadounidense). Henry C. Turner Prize For Innovation In Construction. Consultado el 11 de febrero de 2021.: https://www.nbm.org/about/awards/
In 1967, Robertson became a partner and the design firm was renamed Skilling, Helle, Christiansen, Robertson. The firm split its operations in 1982, and Robertson renamed the East Coast operations Leslie E. Robertson Associates RLLP. Robertson would retire from the partnership in 1994, but would continue to work for the company on projects until 2012.
In addition to the World Trade Center, he was involved in the structural engineering and design of skyscrapers, including the US Steel headquarters in Pittsburgh, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, which was designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, and the Puerta de Europa towers in Madrid. He had also designed the construction of museums in Seattle, Portland, Maine, and Berlin, as well as theaters and bridges. It was also noted that he structurally designed the installation of the works of the American sculptor Richard Serra.
Since the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, debates over the safety of maximized designs in rental space have involved the profession, but the consensus among architects and engineers is that the World Trade Center actually withstood the plane impact long enough to allow the safe evacuation of thousands of occupants. Robertson's firm later participated in the development of a database of basic structural information for the World Trade Center towers (WTC1 and 2) for NIST and FEMA,[7] and to record undocumented structural changes that had been made to buildings after construction began. His firm also stayed on for the structural engineering of the 4 World Trade Center building that arose in the same complex.
Personal life
Robertson was married to Elizabeth Zublin and later Sharon Hibino, and both marriages ended in divorce.[2] He married Saw-Teen See in 1982, an engineer who has also served as business manager of his architectural engineering practice, Leslie E. Robertson Associates (LERA).[8] He had four children, one of whom predeceased him.
Robertson died of blood cancer at his home in San Mateo "San Mateo (California"), California on February 11, 2021, one day before his 93rd birthday.[2].
[11] ↑ «松井源吾賞について» [About the Matsui Gengo Award]. Japan Structural Designers Club (en jp). Consultado el 11 de febrero de 2021.: http://www.jsdclub.jp/matsuigengoprize.html
[12] ↑ «Awards for exemplary achievements in the built environment». National Building Museum (en inglés estadounidense). Henry C. Turner Prize For Innovation In Construction. Consultado el 11 de febrero de 2021.: https://www.nbm.org/about/awards/