Gerhard Jack Zunz
Encyclopedia
Sir Jack Zunz, BSc, FREng
, FIStructE, FICE (born 25 Dec 1923) is a civil engineer
and former chairman of Ove Arup & Partners
. He was the principal structural designer of the Sydney Opera House
.
After interrupting his studies to serve with the South African Forces in Egypt and Italy in the Second World War, he graduated in civil engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 1948. He worked for a consultant and structural steelwork fabricator, before coming to London to join Ove Arup
in 1950.
In 1954 he returned to South Africa and together with Michael Lewis established an office for Arup.
In 1961 Zunz returned to London as an Associate Partner and then from 1965 as a Senior Partner. He led the team which designed the roof of the Sydney Opera House
. He was responsible for many landmark projects, including Britannic House for BP, the Standard Bank
building in Johannesburg, the Emley Moor transmission station, the headquarters building for the HSBC Main Building, the first Stanstead Airport Terminal and many more.
He was Chairman of Ove Arup and Partners from 1977 to 1984 and Co-chairman of Ove Arup Partnership, the whole Arup group, from 1984 to 1989. He was centrally involved in developing the technical skills of the firm, in increasing its geographical spread as well as creating a framework for an increasing number of talented engineers and allied professionals to develop their skills and their careers. Zunz was a consultant to Arup from 1989 to 1996 and the first Chairman of the Ove Arup Foundation. Under his guidance the Foundation initiated multidisciplinary postgraduate programmes at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics.
He was a Fellow Commoner at Churchill College, Cambridge
1967-68. He has lectured widely on his projects and related topics, particularly education. He is the author or co author of many papers. He held a number of appointments outside his firm including being Chairman of the Trustees of the Architectural Association and President of CIRIA
(Construction Industry Research and Information Association).
and he received that Institution’s Gold Medal in 1988. He was knight
ed (Knight Bachelor) in 1989. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Western Ontario
in 1993 and an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Glasgow
in 1994.
He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1990 and an Honorary Fellow of Trevelyan College
, Durham University
in 1996.
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
, FIStructE, FICE (born 25 Dec 1923) is a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and former chairman of Ove Arup & Partners
Arup
Arup is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom which provides engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of the built environment. The firm is present in Africa, the Americas, Australasia, East Asia, Europe and the...
. He was the principal structural designer of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
.
Career
Jack Zunz was born on Christmas Day, 1923.After interrupting his studies to serve with the South African Forces in Egypt and Italy in the Second World War, he graduated in civil engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 1948. He worked for a consultant and structural steelwork fabricator, before coming to London to join Ove Arup
Ove Arup
Sir Ove Nyquist Arup, CBE, MICE, MIStructE known as Ove Arup, was a leading Anglo-Danish engineer and generally considered to be one of the foremost architectural structural engineers of his time...
in 1950.
In 1954 he returned to South Africa and together with Michael Lewis established an office for Arup.
In 1961 Zunz returned to London as an Associate Partner and then from 1965 as a Senior Partner. He led the team which designed the roof of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. He was responsible for many landmark projects, including Britannic House for BP, the Standard Bank
Standard Bank
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited is one of South Africa's largest financial services groups. It operates in 30 countries around the world, including 17 in Africa.-History:...
building in Johannesburg, the Emley Moor transmission station, the headquarters building for the HSBC Main Building, the first Stanstead Airport Terminal and many more.
He was Chairman of Ove Arup and Partners from 1977 to 1984 and Co-chairman of Ove Arup Partnership, the whole Arup group, from 1984 to 1989. He was centrally involved in developing the technical skills of the firm, in increasing its geographical spread as well as creating a framework for an increasing number of talented engineers and allied professionals to develop their skills and their careers. Zunz was a consultant to Arup from 1989 to 1996 and the first Chairman of the Ove Arup Foundation. Under his guidance the Foundation initiated multidisciplinary postgraduate programmes at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics.
He was a Fellow Commoner at Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
1967-68. He has lectured widely on his projects and related topics, particularly education. He is the author or co author of many papers. He held a number of appointments outside his firm including being Chairman of the Trustees of the Architectural Association and President of CIRIA
CIRIA
CIRIA is a member-based research and information organisation dedicated to improvement in all aspects of the construction industry. Members include representatives from all parts of the supply chains of the modern built environment, covering building and civil engineering as well as transport and...
(Construction Industry Research and Information Association).
Awards
Together with Sir Ove Arup he was given the Silver Medal of the Institution of Structural EngineersInstitution of Structural Engineers
The Institution of Structural Engineers is a professional body for structural engineering based in the United Kingdom. It has 27,000 members in 105 countries. The Institution provides professional accreditation for structural engineers...
and he received that Institution’s Gold Medal in 1988. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed (Knight Bachelor) in 1989. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in 1993 and an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1994.
He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1990 and an Honorary Fellow of Trevelyan College
Trevelyan College
Trevelyan College, often abbreviated to Trevs, is a college of the University of Durham in North Eastern England. Founded in 1966, the college takes its name from social historian George Macaulay Trevelyan, Chancellor of the University from 1950 to 1957. Originally an all-female college , the...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
in 1996.