In a paper based on his 2016 IABSE Milne Medal Lecture, James O'Callaghan reflects on his career as an engineer and, in particular, his interest in the art of structural glass design – a field in which he is widely acknowledged as an authority.
James illustrates the evolution of glass as a structural material over the last 20 years and considers its future in an industry increasingly focused on energy efficiency.
The Milne Medal is awarded annually to an individual engineer for excellence in structural design, both in the overall concept and in the attention to detail in their work, and is named in recognition of the late Bob Milne, who served for many years as the Honorary Secretary of the IABSE British Group.