ISE Names Robert Halvorson its 2016 Gold Medalist

Chicago — Robert Halvorson, SE, PE, FASCE, FIStructE, founding principal of Halvorson and Partners, a WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Company, based in Chicago, has been named winner of The Institution of Structural Engineers’ (ISE’s) 2016 Gold Medal. The Institution, the world’s largest membership organization dedicated to the art and science of structural engineering, presents the award to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the profession of structural engineering.

Halvorson is an industry leader in the structural design of high-rise buildings and long-span structures. Over the last four decades he has engineered more than 60 buildings of 40 stories or taller, including Wells Fargo Plaza (formerly Allied Bank Plaza) in Houston, 111 West Wacker in Chicago, Torre Caja Madrid in Madrid, Burj Mohammed bin Rashid Tower in Abu Dhabi, and Hanking Center in Shenzhen.

Halvorson began his career with Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), serving in their Chicago, Houston, New York, and London offices, becoming the firm's youngest partner at the age of 31. He founded Halvorson and Partners in 1996, growing the firm to a staff of nearly 70 professionals within a decade. Under his leadership Halvorson and Partners merged with WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff in 2015.

“I am thrilled and honored to be considered worthy to receive this prestigious award,” says Halvorson. “Looking at the list of eminent past winners of the Gold Medal is humbling. I very much look forward to the opportunity to present my Gold Medal Address to members of the Institution this summer.”

Martin Powell, Chief Executive of The Institution of Structural Engineers, stated: “The Gold Medal is our most prestigious award, recognized around the world as a mark of unique accomplishment in the profession. It was first presented in 1922 to Professor Henry Adams, and since then recipients have included Felix Candela, Ove Arup, Oleg Kerensky and

Edmund Happold. We are very pleased to add Bob to this distinguished list, recognizing, among his many other achievements, his extraordinary contribution to the structural design of tall buildings.”

According to David Cooper, president of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff’s U.S. buildings practice and the region’s chief commercial officer, "We would like to congratulate Bob on this extraordinary recognition of achievement. He has created a world class structural practice whose portfolio of projects exemplifies the art of innovative structural engineering –superbly blending technical excellence with creative thinking, supporting the development of distinguished architecture. This recognition from the Institute of Structural Engineers is testament to his accomplishments.”