STUDENT TRAVELS THROUGH ASIA ON STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FELLOWSHIP

Tracy Kijewski-Correa, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, spent two weeks this summer traveling through Asia as part of the Skidmore Owings and Merrill Foundation Traveling Fellowship in Structural Engineering. Here are some of her observations:

I have just concluded two days in Kuala Lumpur, largely spent visiting the Petronas Towers. I was very impressed to discover the numerous considerations that have gone into the design and the overall concept of the Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). These considerations were intended to insure that the towers were fully embraced by the city. I arrived in Kuala Lumpur with an understanding of the integration of Islamic geometries into the various features of the tower to create a Western structure that was decidedly Eastern. However, it goes further than that. This development is more than just a tall building, it is meant to be a rallying point for the people of Kuala Lumpur – a source of pride. Unlike many skyscrapers in the West, the various interior materials are local in nature, boasting of the Malaysian artistry and handiwork. The incorporation of a five-level shopping mall in the lower levels of the tower complex brings visitors and Kuala Lumpur's citizens to this focal point on a daily basis. This development, careful to learn a lesson from the concrete jungles of the West, integrated acres of lush greenery, water gardens, indigenous palms, children's recreational areas, and Malaysian art, preserving the unique balance between nature and the built environment. Though most cities carefully allocate large parks and shorelines for recreational use, Kuala Lumpur has integrated this greenery throughout the city. I must say there is something magical about sitting beneath a palm on a lush lawn and listening to the songs of birds as you gaze upwards at two sterling giants.

Just as I have spent these last two days beneath the shadow of the towers, the people of Kuala Lumpur come together with their loved ones to laugh and play and relax beside the animated fountains and colorful lights. In the words of Hijjas Kasturi, one of the most accomplished architects in Kuala Lumpur, "Despite all the sophisticated technical input that goes into their realization, without some spiritual interaction between the structure and ... [its] people, it can only be regarded as a failure." In this case, that interaction is quite apparent and consciously fostered by KLCC. Though these towers may bear the name Petronas, they truly belong to the people.

The Structural Engineering Traveling Fellowship, which is awarded annually to a student who has recently completed a graduate program in structural engineering, aims to foster an appreciation of the the aesthetic potential inherent in the structural design of buildings, bridges, and other major works of architecture and engineering. In this way the Fellowship encourages an awareness of visual impact among engineering students and their schools. It will also help to strengthen the connection between aesthetics, efficiency, economy, and innovation in structural design, thus influencing the teaching and practice of structural engineering in the future.