David H. Geiger
David H. Geiger (* 1935 in Philadelphia ; † October 3, 1989 in Seoul ) was an American civil engineer, known for domes in lightweight construction.
Geiger graduated from Drexel University with a bachelor's degree, the University of Wisconsin with a master's degree, and received his PhD in civil engineering from Columbia University . While still a student, he worked with Horst Berger from Severud Associates, which continued when Berger won the competition for the US pavilion for the Expo 70 in Osaka. At that time, Geiger was an adjunct professor at Columbia University. The design consisted of a dome construction made of textile in the shape of a pumpkin, supported by increased air pressure. It should withstand earthquakes and typhoons. He laid the suspension cables diagonally so that the roof did not give way in the middle, as with a rectangular grid. With Berger he founded the engineering office Geiger Berger Associates, which existed until 1983. He then founded Geiger Associates (acquired by KKBN in 1986) and Geiger Engineers in 1988.
Geiger also developed his own software for his constructions in the 1970s.
His projects include:
- Silverdome in Pontiac (Michigan) 1975, the first major sports stadium with a roof made of fiberglass fabric with air pressure support.
- Stephen C. O'Connell Center (The O'Dome) in Gainesville , Florida 1980
- Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis 1982
- BC Place in Vancouver 1983
- Lindsay Par Sportrs Center in Calgary 1983
- RCA Dome (Hoosier Dome), Indianapolis
- Tokyo Dome of Tokyo Giants Baseball Stadium in Tokyo 1988
- Redbird Arena, Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois 1988
- Florida Suncoast Dome (Tropicana Field), St. Petersburg (Florida)
Most recently, he designed the weightlifting, fencing and gymnastics stadiums for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the first Tensegrity dome. Geiger died of a heart attack in October 1989 while on business in Seoul.
In 1974 he received the Dickson Prize in Science . In 1986 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects and in 1983 the Innovation Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. He held around a dozen patents for his roof structures.
Geiger was married to Gloria Bohm and had three daughters. He was president of the New York Habitat for Humanity charity.
Web links
- Christina M. Zweig: David Geiger: dome master , Civil and Structural Engineer, February 19, 2014
- Obituary in the NY Times, October 4, 1989
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Geiger, David H. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Violinist, David |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American civil engineer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1935 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Philadelphia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd October 1989 |
| Place of death | Seoul |