Nicholas F. Forell (1923 – February 19, 1998) was a structural engineer and a leading authority in the development of modern earthquake safety design. He was a founder and former president of the San Francisco firm Forell/Elsesser Engineers.[1]
Early life
editNicholas was born in Züllichau, Germany in 1923. In 1941, he immigrated to the United States and began living in New York City.[2]
Military service
editAfter the attack on Pearl Harbor, Nicholas joined the United States Army in 1942, and was assigned to the Signal Corps (United States Army)' Heavy Construction Battalion operating with British troops in Myanmar.[3][4]
Education
editFollowing the war, Nicholas was offered admission to the engineering program at Brown University, and he graduated in 1949.[4] Shortly after graduation, he moved to San Francisco to begin his career at Sverdrup & Parcel.[5][4]
Notable projects
edit- Pacific Gas & Electric Headquarters seismic retrofit
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art structural design
- Berkeley Civic Center seismic retrofit
Utah State Capitol historic seismic retrofits
edit- W. M. Keck Observatory structural design
Published works
edit- "Developments in earthquake design codes", 1981
- "Mexico earthquakes : Oaxaca - November 29, 1978, Guerrero", 1979
Personal life
editMarried to Carol Forell.[1] Daughters[4] Katey (finance) and Anne (architect)
References
edit- ^ a b "OBITUARY -- Nicholas Forell". 26 February 1998.
- ^ "PCAD - Nicholas Forell".
- ^ "PCAD - Nicholas Forell".
- ^ a b c d https://www.eeri.org/site/images/projects/oralhistory/forell.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "History | Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc". 2 February 2013.