Emil Praeger
American architect
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emil H. Praeger (August 2, 1892 – October 16, 1973) was an American architect and civil engineer.
Emil Hugh Praeger[1] | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 2, 1892 New York City, U.S.[1] |
| Died | October 16, 1973 (aged 81) Manhasset, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Spouse |
Edna Quinn (m. 1918) |
| Children | 2[3] |
| Awards | Legion of Merit[3] |
Biography
He was born in 1892.
Praeger graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1915.[4] He 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.[5]
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.[6] He also acted as head of the civil engineering department at RPI from 1939 to 1946.[1]
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.[4]
Praeger served as consulting engineer on the White House Reconstruction in 1949.[7]
He died on October 16, 1973 at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, New York.[8]
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 Telescope at 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
