Fazlur Rahman (F. R.) Khan

  • Born: 3 April 1929, Dhaka
  • Died: 27 March 1982, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (aged 52)
  • Profession: Bangladeshi-American Engineer
  • Recognition: "Einstein of structural engineering" and "Father of tubular design for high-rises"
  • Hasani? Didn't know that! Passionate Rabindranath Tagore singer. Graduated with 1st class 1st degree for Engineering from Ahsanullah College (now BUET) in 1951
  • Designs include: Sears Tower (aka Willis Tower),
    John Hancock Center,
    Hajj Terminal, King Abdulaziz Airport (Jeddah).
    His techniques influenced World Trade Center, Petronas Towers, Jin Mao Building, and most other supertall skyscrapers since the 1960s.

Biography

  1. Early life of Khan Bahadur's son, family life, a passion for Rabindranath Sangeet
  2. "Einstein of Structural Engineering" changes the face of architecture for good, Dewitt-Chestnut Apartments
  3. John Hancock Center
  4. Raise awareness in US during 1971 Muktijuddho
  5. One Shell Square, Sears (Willis) Tower
  6. Hajj Terminal, other contributions
  7. Philosophy, awards galore
  8. Passing and burial

Legacy

  1. Family's dedication to continue legacy, "Engineering Architecture: The Vision of Fazlur R. Khan", "Art of the Skyscraper: The Genius of Fazlur Khan"
  2. "Fazlur R. Khan Way", Memorial plaque in Onterie Center, The Muslim News Award, "Khan Sculpture" at Sears (Willis) Tower
  3. Swadhinata Purushkar and honorary stamp by Government of Bangladesh
  4. What others say about Fazlur Rahman (F. R.) Khan...

Timeline of few major events in Fazlur Rahman (F. R.) Khan's life

  • 1951 - Graduate in Civil Engineering from Ahsanullah Engineering College, University of Dhaka (now BUET)
  • 1952 - Awarded Fulbright Scholarship and travel to United States to study at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • 1955 - Gain two Master's degree (structural engineering and theoretical & applied mechanics) and a PhD (structural engineering)
  • 1955 - Began professional career working as structural engineer for Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) in Chicago
  • 1959 - Marry Austrian emigrant Liselotte Anne Olga Turba
  • 1960 - Daughter, and only child, Yasmin Sabina Khan born
  • 1963 - Invented the patented tubular concept
  • 1970 - General Partner at SOM
  • 1971 - Supported Bangladesh Liberation War from US by finding and becoming president of two national organisations, Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal and Bangladesh Defense League.
  • 1972 - Founder president of 'Bangladesh Foundation'. Muhammad Yunus, later a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, selected as first Representative in Bangladesh
  • 10 February 1972 - Engineering News-Record (ENR) awarded 42-year-old F.R. Khan with "Construction's Man of the Year"
  • 1980 - Founder president of 'Bangladesh Association of Chicagoland' in Chicago
  • 27 March 1982 - Pass away in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with heart attack a week before his 53rd birthday, and a day after Bangladesh's 11th independance anniversary. Buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago on 2 April 1982
  • 1983 - Posthumously awarded AIA (American Institute of Architects) Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, and Aga Khan Award for Architecture 'for the Structure of the Hajj Terminal, An Outstanding Contribution to Architecture for Muslims' among other awards
  • 1999 - Engineering News-Record lists F. R. Khan as one of the world's top 20 structural engineers of the last 125 years
  • 1999 - Awarded 'Swadhinata Purushkar' (Independence Day Award), country's highest state honour, by Government of Bangladesh. A commemorative postal stamp (4 taka) also published in his memory
  • May 2005 - Conferred title of most famous Bangladeshi-American of the 20th century by Bangladeshi-American Foundation, Inc. (BAFI)