William F. Baker - Essay Example

? William F. Baker Introduction Background information context William F. Baker is a renowned structural engineer whose expertise to date continues to amaze numerous people worldwide (Wallace, 2011). At a tender age, Baker’s mother encouraged him to pursue engineering as a career (Wallace, 2011). This is because both of his late grandfathers were also engineers though their fame did not equal that of Baker as a skyscraper designer. In his early schooling, Baker used to excel in Maths, Physics and History though before his graduation he had no idea of what he wanted to study while in University (Baker, 2010). Baker’s strong desire to pursue engineering as a career started after undergoing aptitude test confirmation where he proceeded to the University of Missouri and graduated in 1975 (Baker, 2010). Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, Baker worked for various oil companies in 1970s though he decided to quit within a very short time to pursue Masters Degre (Wallace, 2011). To his peers, Baker seemed to have made a wrong decision but in he knew better than they did (Wallace, 2011). This is by going back to school to study Masters in Structural Engineering at the University of Illinois (Wallace, 2011). Baker’s Masters Degree was extremely demanding due to the course’s many subjects supposed to equip him with right knowledge concerning how to tackle varied tasks that characterized his field of specialization. After graduating, Baker joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (SOM) firm whose staff comprised of talented experts from his former school (Baker, 2010). Here he worked under the supervision of Fazlur Khan who also mentored him on how to design and evaluate tallest buildings besides other structures. Consequently, this was revelation to the young Baker who by then he hardly knew that experience acted as a preparation for great, complex and fascinating projects in future, for instance, Burj Dubai Tower (Baker, Pawlikowski & Young, 2009). Throughout his career, Baker has always collaborated with other numerous and different experts like architects while undertaking extremely involving design projects (Baker, Pawlikowski & Young, 2009). 2. Problem / Issue identification Baker was a structural engineer, but most of his works required architects’ intervention, especially when he was drawing certain figures that entailed refined details. The two fields’ core role encompasses producing effective structural designs that will support and ensure safety to all people. This is by ensuring the load of every designed structure can adequately withstand varied inevitable natural forces, for instance, wind and gravity (Baker, 2010). This study seeks to relay Baker’s experience, expertise and career achievements that have prompted him to the most renowned structural engineer in the world (Baker, Pawlikowski & Young, 2009). Literature Review Mainly, Baker’s major role in every designing project encompasses coming up with a strong and effective plan that will not only meet client’s aesthetic value, but also ensure evenly distribution of the entire structure’s weight. The designing of the entire structure that will be free from adverse effects resulting from gravity and wind is the task that cannot be complete without the intervention of architects. This is evident in the recent completed Burj Dubai Tower which, according to Baker and his team, comprises one of the current famed breakthroughs. According to Baker, for a skyscraper to meet client’s specifications, it ought to fulfill key inevitable engineering principles. These are insignificant for the client, but experts must employ them while erecting the required structure as per the stated specifications. For instance, Burj’s design had to be efficient, considerable wide base to support the expected load but narrow enough such that the building is economically viable (Baker, 2010). Therefore, the building despite designed to meet all the client’s specifications (to be tall) had to utilize small availed space effectively, which entailed using buttressed core (ENA, 2013). In their designing process, Baker and his team successfully managed to observe these considerations due to the expertise he attained not only while in school but also while working with varied mentors in his line of specialization. Mentors in this case encompassed architects and civil engineers whom he did not brand as enemies trying to block his ideas while undertaking previous projects before, but welcoming as companions making one big team determined to win irrespective of the challenges, they encountered (Wallace, 2011). For instance, when designing Burj Khalifa, architects as well as engineers utilized geometrical principles to come up with a triaxial and structure having spiraling development (Baker & Pawlikowski, 2012). The latter aspects were basically for aesthetic value besides giving the entire structure a unique touch such that it did not resemble any other building worldwide (Wallace, 2011). Undeniably, Baker’s engineering acumen has not only contributed to the engineering field but also encouraged numerous students to be innovative. This is especially to those majoring in the same discipline with the intention of contributing one day to the welfare of entire global society. This is evident during his visit to Khalifa University where he called upon engineers irrespective of their diverse disciplines to have control over their designs besides challenging the present’s architectural beliefs (ENA, 2013). He gave an example of his team when they were designing Burj Khalifa as a structure to embody world’s highest aspirations, which each young mind currently ought to emulate (Pawlikowski, Baker, & Young, 2010). Baker’s expertise is also evident in the planning of various fascinating rooftops that have attracted world’s admiration, for instance, Korean Air Lines Operations Hangar (ENA, 2013). Discussion/ Analysis Baker’s immense varied contributions have encouraged me to study harder, besides always finding opportunities that will increase my knowledge and experience. This is evident when he left his initial employment despite receiving a good salary to pursue Masters Degree (Wallace, 2011). Hence, prompting numerous people, especially his peers, to think what he did was unwise though in heart Baker knew what he wanted. In addition, he was humble enough to stay under the mentorship of more experienced experts and working harmoniously with people from other disciplines like architects (Baker, Pawlikowski & Young, 2009). With Baker, I also learnt being an expert does not imply one has no need of others’ help who may be involved in a similar project (Wallace, 2011). Therefore, he or she ought to value each individual’s contribution irrespective of one’s specialization, which is a virtue I ought to emulate to be successful in my career. Baker’s valuing of expertise is also evident when he cited SOM was an architectural office that employed structural engineers due to their unique role in all matters of designing process (ENA, 2010). Hence, prompting me to have a different philosophy contrary to what I had before deciding to start my career especially during designing process. I thought building experts worked independently. Therefore, architects were the only people supposed to take control of any design in modifying the idea they intended to come up with, whereas other specialists’ roles were in the field (ENA, 2013). Baker’s contribution in this field has also challenged the norm of having wide foundation base especially for tall buildings, which are not economically viable compared to the buttressed core (Baker & Pawlikowski, 2012). Therefore, structures’ designs ought to be economically viable without compromising their quality, which is only through knowing how to contain inevitable natural forces (Baker, 2010). References Baker, W. F. (2010). Engineering an Idea: The Realization Of the Burj Khalifa. Civil Engineering (08857024), 80(3), 44-47. Baker, W. F., & Pawlikowski, J. J. (2012). Higher and Higher: The Evolution of the Buttressed Core. Civil Engineering (08857024), 82(10), 58-65. Baker, W. F., Pawlikowski, J. J., & Young, B. S. (2010). Reaching toward The Heavens. Civil Engineering (08857024), 80(3), 48-55. Emirates News Agency - ENA. (2013). Khalifa University hosts structural engineer William F. baker. Emirates News Agency (ENA). Retrieved 21St July 2013 from Pawlikowski, J.,Baker, W. & Young, B. (2009). The Challenges in Designing the World's Tallest Structure: The Burj Dubai Tower. Structures Congress, pp. 1-10. DOI: 10.1061/41031(341)160 Wallace, S. (2011). William F. Baker: Reaching for the sky. Structural Engineer. Retrieved on 21St July 2013 from Read More