Emil H. Praeger, Class of 1915
Civil Engineer, Creative Builder
1882 - 1973

Rensselaer’s most prolific civil engineer of the 20th century, Praeger put his stamp on projects from the New York City parks system to the White House.

In World War II he designed the rectangular floating concrete breakwaters, code named “Phoenix,” which were constructed in England and floated across the English channel to form a protected harbor for the invasion of Normandy.

He was structural designer of renovations to the White House under Truman.

He designed the Tappan Zee Bridge spanning the Hudson River at Tarrytown, N.Y., the Nebraska State Capitol, Shea and Dodger Stadiums, and the world’s largest telescope at Arecibo in Puerto Rico.

He was a leader of efforts to repair broken dikes at Zeeland in the Netherlands.