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FRE D N. S EVE RU D
1 899-1 990
BY ANTON TEDESKO
FRED N SEVERUD was born in Bergen, Norway, on tune 8, lX99,
and died in Miami, Florida, on tune 11, 1990. As one of the
foremost structural engineers of his time, he left his imprint on
many famous buildings, as well as a host of conventional struc-
tures. Severud was an innovator responsible for many unusual
creative structural solutions. He was an excellent speaker who
inspired complete confidence.
Severud graduated in 1923 from the Institute of Technology
in Trondheim, Norway. He married his college sweetheart,
Signe Hansen, and they headed for the United States. Shortly
after their arrival he obtained a position with an engineering
company, where he advanced rapidly. After several years he
decided to start his own engineering practice, was recommend-
ed for a major housing project, and made his reputation as a
troubleshooter for buildings that had developed problems. He
found satisfaction in developing engineering solutions to diffi-
cult problems. It seemed that in his structural engineering there
was always at work a good bit of ingenuity and intuition. He
learner! many lessons from nature, observed for instance the
structure of flowers, and applied this knowledge to structural
design. He pioneered many new structural systems and was
respected for his structures, which stand today in fine condition.
Among the innovations introduced by Severud was the cable-
supported roof. He applied the principles known and used for
253
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254
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
suspension bridges to buildings, such as the Raleigh, North
Carolina, Livestock Judging Arena; the Yale University hockey
rink; and Madison Square Garden.
Quite a few of the structural designers in Severud's office had
attended European universities, where they received a much
broader education and training than was then obtainable by
students in American technical universities. Initially, Severud's
firm was known as Severud-Elstad-Krueger; Elstac3 had come
from Norway, Krueger from Germany. Twenty years later, the
name of the firm had changed to Severud-Perrone-Sturm-Ban-
del, and eventually this was shortened to Severud Associates.
The Severud firm on its own or in collaboaration with well-
known architects created a number of stunning projects, such as
the Place Ville Marie Center in Montreal, and the superb City
Hall Complex in Toronto. Severud was the favorite engineer of
several prestigious architects known for their contemporary
work. He cooperated with architect Eero Saarinen on the design
and the supervision of construction of the Gateway Arch, a 630-
foot-high stainless steel sculpture on the bank of the Mississippi
River at St. Louis.
The American Institute of Architects elected Fred N. Severud
an honorary associate member in acknowledgment of the cre-
ative stimulus derived by the profession from his leadership in
structural design en c] engineering. A fellow of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, he received numerous other honors,
such as the Earnest E. Howard Award of that society, and the
Frank P. Brown Medal of the Franklin Institute for outstanding
engineering accomplishments. In 1968 he was elected a member
of the National Academy of Engineering.
Severud was the author of several books on architectural and
engineering subjects, and on the safety under nuclear blast. He
wrote many technical articles that appeared in professional
journals. Severud frequently lectured to groups of architectural
students. The multitude of his technical skills was unusual, as was
his skill in human relations. He will be remembered notjust as
an outstanding engineer, but as a man who cared about his
fellow man and showed this concern by his actions.
Severud retired from his firm in 1973. Upon leaving he gave
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FRED N. SEVERUD
255
up all engineering-related contacts and activities and spent his
time and efforts entirely on behalf of a Bible-oriented religious
organization.
Mr. SeverucI is survived by his daughters, Laila Shalkoski and
Sonja Susich, and by his son, Fred Severud, Jr., a civil engineer-
member in the Severud firm.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
broader education
