Horst Berger, P.E. F.ASCE
Principal Consultant
Education
Dipl.lng. Civil Engineering, 1954, Stuttgart University, Stuttgart, Germany
Professor of Architecture and Engineering, City College of New York
Professional Experience
Horst Berger was a structural engineer and designer known internationally for his work in the development, design, and engineering of lightweight tensile structures. More than 40 of his projects in this new architectural technology have been built over the last twenty years. They include landmark structures such as the San Diego Convention Center, Canada Harbour Place in Vancouver, and the Landside Terminal enclosure structure of the new Denver International Airport. They also include the Haj Terminal at the Jeddah Airport, the world's largest roof structure, and the roof structure for the King Fahd International Stadium in Rijadh with its record spans. His designs of fabric structures for civil engineering purposes include cooling towers and coal and grain storage covers.
Mr. Berger started his career in 1955 in the Bridge and Special Structures Department of Wayss and Freitag in Frankfurt, Germany, designing concrete bridges, shells, and domes. From 1958 to 1960 he headed the structural department of a large A/E office (F.H.Kocks) in Iran.
In 1960 he joined Severud Associates in New York city. There he participated in the design of the St. Louis Arch, Madison Square Garden, the Marina City Towers in Chicago, and Toronto City Hall. As an associate he designed numerous structures including the Annenberg Tower of Mount Sinai Hospital, the University of Virginia Field House , the Hofstra University Bridge, and the Wesleyan University hockey rink.
In 1968 he joined David Geiger to form Geiger Berger Assoc., the firm which was instrumental in introducing fabric structures into permanent architectural applications. This firm designed some of the most advanced structures of the period. Projects included:
- Haj Terminal at the Jeddah International Airport
- King Fahd Soccer Stadium
- Canada Place
- Florida Festival
- The Tennessee Pavilion
- Bullock's Department Store, San Jose, CA
- Bullock's Department Store, San Mateo, CA
- Seaworld Pavilion, San Diego, CA
- Crown Center Pavilion
- Sibley Horticulture Center, Callaway Gardens
In 1983 Mr. Berger formed Horst Berger Partners. This firm continued the work with fabric structures, introducing new materials and design tools. In addition to the prominent buildings which were completed in this period in the US and abroad, Mr. Berger developed numerous designs for lightweight dome structures, including retractable systems. A sampling of projects completed include:
- San Diego Convention Center
- Phoenix Suns Arena, Phoenix
- McClain Indoor Practice Facility, University of Wisconsin
- Wimbledon Tennis Arena, Wimbledon, UK
- Great Hall, Alexandra, London, UK
- Shoreline Amphitheater
- Knott Athletic Recreation Convocation Center
- Mitchell Center - 1990 Original Structure
In 1990 Mr. Berger joined Severud Associates. In the same year he became a professor at the School of Architecture of the City College of New York. Selected sample projects include:
- Denver International Airport
- Whale pool enclosure for the New York Aquarium
- Eilat Performing Arts Center, Elat, Isreal
In 1994 he joined De Nardis Associates' Light Structures Division, (now a unit of De Nardis Engineering, LLC). For Mr. Berger, this move was a reunion with Joseph A. DeNardis, and other firm personnel, who started their careers with Mr. Berger at Geiger Berger Associates and continued with him at Horst Berger Partners. Today, Mr. Berger continues his involvement in the development, design, and engineering of light weight tensile structures. Sample projects include:
- Palm Springs Regional Airport
- Graniteville Park
- Brooklyn Aquatheater
- University of Northern Iowa Sports Facility
- Feasibility Study for Fabric Towers
- Mitchell Center Expansion 2009
Mr. Berger was named as one of the top 3 structural engineers in the past 125 years, by Engineering News Record magazine (August 30,1999). In ENR's November 2003 issue, Mr. Berger was listed as one of the "World's Construction Leaders Top People," in the Structural Engineers category. Also, the August 2007 issue of Architectural Record listed Mr. Berger among the modern world's structural engineers who have contributed substantially to architecture. More information about Mr. Berger and fabric structures can be found in his book, Light Structures - Structures of Light: The Art and Engineering of Tensile Architecture Illustrated by the Work of Horst Berger , / Horst Berger; Authorhouse (June, 2005).
For more information please visit Horst Berger's website HorstBerger.com