Quick Facts
Biography
Emil Praeger (1882 – October 16, 1973) was an American architect and civil engineer.
Praeger graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1915. Praeger also acted as head of the civil engineering department at RPI from 1939-1946.
In 1934, as chief engineer for the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation, Praeger surveyed all New York City parks. Under director Robert Moses, Praeger created architectural drawings, descriptions, and photographs for every park that the city owned.
During World War II, Praeger served in the US Navy, and he eventually reached the rank of captain. He developed the original design of the concrete floating breakwater - known as "Phoenix" - for the Invasion of Normandy. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on December 17, 1944.
Praeger served as consulting engineer on the White House renovations in 1949.
Selected work
- Henry Hudson Bridge, (chief engineer) New York, 1932
- Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, (chief engineer) New York, 1937
- Pier 57, New York City, 1952
- Arecibo Radio Telescope in the Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, 1952.
- Holman Stadium, (chief engineer) Vero Beach, Florida, 1953
- Tappan Zee Bridge, New York, 1955
- Throg's Neck Bridge, (consulting engineer) New York, 1961
- Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York, 1964
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, 1962