Emil Praeger
Emil Praeger (1882 – October 16, 1973) was an American architect and civil engineer.
Praeger graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1915[1] and served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, after which he spent time at the architectural office of Bertram Goodhue and the New York City engineering firm Madigan-Hyland.[2]
In 1934, as chief engineer for the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation, Praeger surveyed all New York City parks. Under director Robert Moses, Praeger created architectural drawings, descriptions, and photographs for every park that the city owned.[3] He also acted as head of the civil engineering department at RPI from 1939-1946.
During World War II, Praeger served in the US Navy, and he eventually reached the rank of captain. He developed the original design of the concrete floating breakwater - known as "Phoenix" - for the Invasion of Normandy.[1] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on December 17, 1944.[4]
Praeger served as consulting engineer on the White House renovations in 1949.[5]
Selected work
- Henry Hudson Bridge, (chief engineer) New York, 1932
- Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, (chief engineer) New York, 1937
- Pier 57, New York City, 1952
- Arecibo Radio Telescope in the Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, 1952.
- Holman Stadium, (chief engineer) Vero Beach, Florida, 1953
- Tappan Zee Bridge, New York, 1955
- Throg's Neck Bridge, (consulting engineer) New York, 1961
- Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York, 1964
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, 1962
References
- 1 2 "Emil H. Praeger". RPI Alumni Hall of Fame. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ Wolf, Donald E. (2010). Crossing the Hudson: Historic Bridges and Tunnels of the River. Rutgers University Press. p. 180. ISBN 9780813547084.
- ↑ "Green Spaces and Moody Places". The Brooklyn Historical Society Blog RSS [Brooklyn Historical Society Blog. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "Distinguished Service Cross Awards"
- ↑ "Walter O Mally History". Retrieved 7 August 2011.