Richard L. Tomasetti was recently awarded the 2008 George A. Fox Public Service Award at the 2008 Industry Recognition Dinner of the New York Building Congress that attracted 1,000 members in the building community.

Building Congress Chairman Stuart E. Graham presented the award for Tomasetti’s exemplary industry leadership, contributions to educational programs for existing and future professionals, and his myriad charitable endeavors – all which emulate the ideals of civil engineer and construction industry giant George A. Fox, who passed away in May 2001 following complications from cancer surgery.

Graham said few individuals have contributed as much as Tomasetti to so many worthwhile causes. “As Chairman of the New York Building Foundation, he has energized the organization toward much greater support of education, philanthropic and research activities,” Graham said.

“I am excited and honored to receive this award because George Fox was a wonderful man and a great civil engineer and contractor,” said Tomasetti, founding principal of our firm. “As an adjunct professor and major supporter of education and mentoring, George showed love for his students and appreciation to anyone who helped him.”

“I would also like to express appreciation to my fellow principles and key staff at Thornton Tomasetti for their constant support of our educational, mentoring and philanthropic activities,” Tomasetti said.

Tomasetti’s four decades of experience as a structural engineer has secured his mark on buildings around the world; from the World Financial Center and Yankee Stadium in New York City, to Plaza 66 in Shanghai, China’s tallest all-concrete building, and Taipei 101 in Taiwan.

Tomasetti has spent much of his career involved with teaching, lecturing and philanthropy in his profession and the larger community. Notably, he led a team of engineers from Thornton Tomasetti that assisted with the rescue and cleanup operations after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In honor of their fathers, he and Charles Thornton established the Thornton Tomasetti chair in engineering at Manhattan College, the first of its kind.

Tomasetti is currently a member of advisory boards to Manhattan College, Columbia University, New York University, Cooper Union and the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction, where he also helped to develop mentoring partnerships between the school and the design professions. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and New York University, where he developed the first honors seminar on “The Engineering of Major Architecture” in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The late Fox, a renowned civil engineer and respected construction industry leader, was described by Richard T. Anderson, current president of the Building Congress, as “a man of integrity who cared deeply about human values and social ideals.” A 1940 graduate of The Cooper Union, Fox took an active interest in the well-being of the institution, serving as chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Cooper Union from 1987 to 1995. As a lecturer at Cooper Union’s School of Engineering, he was an inspiration to his students, said Dr. George Campbell Jr., Cooper Union president. Fox died in May 2001, following complications from cancer surgery.

In closing, Tomasetti said: “If George Fox were here tonight, I think he would say that no matter how tough the economy, we should always set aside time and money to support the education of young people who are pursuing careers in our great building industry. This is not the time to pull back on the best investment in our future – education and mentoring.”

About Thornton Tomasetti (www.ThorntonTomasetti.com)
Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering services to clients worldwide on buildings of all sizes and complexity. From the tallest buildings and the longest spans, to innovative building systems and materials, the firm is committed to creating the best solutions through its technical ingenuity, pursuit of excellence, and responsiveness to client needs. Our work is in three practice areas: Building Structures, Building Skin and Building Performance. Founded in 1956 as Lev Zetlin & Associates, today Thornton Tomasetti is a 650-person organization of engineers and architects collaborating from offices across the United States and in Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, and the Middle East.

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