The National Building Museum and Turner Construction Co. have established a major prize for notable advances and high achievement in the process of construction - the Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology.
The winner of the first prize, which carries a $25,000 cash award, is structural engineer Leslie E. Robertson. His 50-year career as a structural designer has significantly advanced the engineering and construction of tall buildings around the world, according to the National Building Museum and Turner Construction. He has been responsible for the structural design and construction of three of the world's six tallest buildings, including the World Trade Center. Robertson will receive the prize at a centennial anniversary dinner hosted by Turner Construction Company at the National Building Museum on Monday, May 6. On Sunday, May 5 at 4 p.m., Robertson will give a public lecture at the museum.
The Henry C. Turner Prize is named after the founder of the Turner Construction Co. established in May 1902 in New York City. It recognizes an invention, an innovative methodology and/or exceptional leadership by an individual or team of individuals in construction technology. This broadly includes construction techniques, innovations and practices, construction and project management and engineering design. The prize primarily recognizes achievements within the United States, but innovations or achievements by Americans in construction technology outside the United States are also eligible for consideration. At the discretion of the prize jury, the prize will be awarded annually.
The inaugural jury for the Henry C. Turner Prize included five members: Chris T. Hendrickson, Duquesne Light Co. professor of engineering and head of the department of civil and environmental engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. Robert Hillier, founder and chairman of the board, The Hillier Group, an architecture firm in headquartered Princeton, N.J.; Clyde B. Tatum, professor and chair, department of civil and environmental engineering, and director of the construction institute, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.; Thomas R. Turner, vice president of national marketing, Turner Construction Co., New York City; and Norbert W. Young, Jr., president, McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group, New York, N.Y., and member of the National Building Museum's board of trustees.
The Turner Corp., through Turner Construction Co. and other construction subsidiaries, is a leading general builder in the United States, ranking first or second in major segments of the building construction field. During 2001, The Turner Corp., based in Dallas, Texas, completed $6.3 billion of construction. Turner is the only builder offering clients a nationwide network, with 42 offices across the country. Founded in 1902, Turner was acquired in 1999 by Hochtief AG. For more information, visit Turner's web site at www.turnerconstruction.com
The National Building Museum , created by an act of Congress in 1980, is a private, non-profit institution that examines American achievements in building through exhibitions, education programs, and publications. The Museum is developing a permanent exhibition, Building America, to explore the achievements and qualities that are quintessentially American in our built environment. The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free.
