Fritz Leonhardt

Fritz Leonhardt (1909-1999) was a German structural engineer, born in Stuttgart, who became one of the most influential bridge designers of the twentieth century. He earned degrees from Stuttgart University and Purdue University and became chief engineer for the Cologne-Rodenkirchen Bridge at just 28, founded the consulting firm Leonhardt und Andra in 1954, and taught reinforced and prestressed concrete design at Stuttgart University from 1958 to 1974. His technical contributions include a launching system for prestressed concrete bridges, first used on a Venezuelan bridge in 1963, the Hi-Am cable stay anchor developed with the Swiss firm B.B.R.V., further work on prestressed concrete anchorages, and early experiments with steel orthotropic bridge decks. His built work includes the Stuttgart Television Tower, the Cologne-Rodenkirchen Bridge, and cable stayed bridges in Dusseldorf, the United States and Norway, and his book Bridges: Aesthetics and Design remains influential. He received the Werner von Siemens Ring, the Institution of Structural Engineers Gold Medal in 1975 and six honorary doctorates. He died in 1999. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/