Structural Engineers HALL of FAME
Postings here, document and acknowledge the achievements of individuals honored by the Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW) since the 1950 establishment of the organization.
Gerry Dixon - President's Award 1988, SEAW President 1986, SEAW Seattle President 1984 b. 1936, d. October 31, 1987
A native of England, Gerard Dixon worked in the Toronto office of John Graham & Company before coming to Seattle in 1965 to continue with the firm as Director of Structural Engineering. His projects with the firm included the original Washington Plaza Hotel and later the second tower for the Westin Hotel, the Bank of California Building, the Sheraton Hotel, and the Sixth and Pike Building, all located in Seattle. His colleagues observed that "the sun never sets on Dixon's structures," with projects located in India, England, Canada, and all across the US including Alaska and Hawaii. His expertise in tall buildings produced work prominent along the Seattle skyline; and "if you were to place all his high-rise buildings one on top of the other, they would stand more than a mile high" (Equilibrium December 1987).
Early in his career he worked with N. G. Jacobson and Associates as Director of Structural Engineering, and with The Schemmer Associates 1985-87.
Gerry's SEAW activities included chairing the Technical Information Committee as well as organizing numerous seminars. As Chairman of the Structural Exam Committee, he worked with the State Board of Registration to create the examination used the qualify structural engineers, and played an instrumental role in bringing together several western states to give a common exam on the same day. He also represented SEAW at a 1984 ATC Workshop held in Hawaii for "Development of a Cooperative US-Japan Program for the Improvement of Building Seismic Design and Construction Practices."
Gerry and Bill Mooseker co-authored a 1973 "Discussion: Steel Column Base Plate Design" and a 1979 paper on "Computer-Aided Preliminary Design."
The American Institute of Steel Construction recognized his contribution to the profession with a national award for exceptional professional achievement and creative contribution to the art of steel construction.
Posted April 2012