Issue 13

2006 is a year of many anniversaries. The 200th birthday of Isambard Kingdom Brunel was on 9 April. As Chairman of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, in 2005 I helped to steer the discussion about two commemorative ‘Brunel’ coins – bi-metal £2 coins – which will soon be released into general circulation. One is a portrait design, the other celebrates Brunel’s engineering achievements. The design by artist Rod Kelly includes a version of the famous photo of Brunel standing in front of the huge anchor chains of the ‘Great Eastern’ in 1857, the one in which he’s wearing a stove-pipe hat and a snugly-cut frock coat over his muddy trousers and shoes, a watch-chain and mutton-chop whiskers. Behind him, in the design, is the Royal Albert Bridge crossing the Tamar at Saltash. There was discussion at the Committee – I’m glad to say very brief – about whether Brunel’s cigar should be censored, but we agreed that Brunel without his cigar would be like... Box without the tunnel or Ove without Arup or Maitland without Major. Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, PhD Rector and Vice-Provost, Royal College of Art

The structural engineering design and constructive aspects of a unique stainless steel-clad pedestrian crossing at the Millennium Park in Chicago are presented. The overall bridge form is characteristic of architect Frank O. Gehry’s work: metallic surfaces freely flowing in profile and serpentine in plan. Details of the computer aided steelwork detailing, fabrication, and erection are presented. Substantive engineering analysis and design details including the issue of synchronous pedestrian walking vibrations are summarised. H. Iyengar, BS, MS, CEng, FIStructE, Hon.MASCE Retired from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, USA C. Rockey, BSAS, MArch, SE, AIA Assistant Professor of Architecture , University of Illinois Chicago Campus,, (formerly of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP) R. Sinn, BS, MS, PE, SE, FASCE Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, USA J. Zils, BArch, MS, PE, SE, FASCE Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, USA