Michael Dickson receives honorary degree from the University of Bath
Michael Dickson CBE, one of the founders of Buro Happold, the international multi-disciplinary firm of consulting engineers, today becomes a Doctor of Engineering with the award of an honorary degree from the University of Bath.
Michael said: “It is an incredible feeling to be recognised for something that is a passion, and I am extremely honoured to receive this award. I’ve been very lucky in that my engineering career has rewarded me with increased levels of challenge, resolution and recognition as I’ve gained experience over the years. I hope that this experience will be beneficial to budding engineers of the future.
“I have never actually been able to attend any of my graduation ceremonies in the past, so this is certainly a new experience for me!”
Michael is one of the leading structural engineers in the UK and the award is the latest achievement in his distinguished career. Michael studied Mechanical Sciences at the University of Cambridge, and Structural Engineering at Cornell University, USA. Shortly afterwards he joined Ove Arup and Partners, where he met Ted Happold who, in 1976, along with Michael and six other colleagues, set up Buro Happold in Bath.
Since its modest beginnings at 14 Gay Street over 30 years ago, Michael’s contribution to the expansion and development of Buro Happold has been invaluable. Today the practice employs more than 1,500 staff in 19 offices worldwide. As Chairman from 1996 to April 2005, Michael presided over a five-fold increase in the size of Buro Happold while working on high-profile projects such as the Headquarters for British Airways, the Al Faisaliah Centre in Riyadh and the Weald and Downland Museum, Sussex.
In 2005 Michael was awarded the CBE for services to structural engineering and became President of the Institution of Structural Engineers for 2005/2006. He has also held a number of other important positions within the construction industry.
Michael’s involvement with the Happold Trust is also testament to his dedication to engineering and his experience is valuable in educating young engineers of the future. The registered charity was established in 1995 by Buro Happold’s founding partners, and is aimed at promoting education, research and training in the fields applicable to the construction industry, engineering, design, technology and architecture.
Michael continues his involvement with engineering design through tutoring of the next generation of engineers as a visiting professor in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Bath University, a contribution that extends back to 1976.
Michael lives in Bath and is married with two daughters.
Ends
Buro Happold
Press office and practice information at www.burohappold.com
Images of Michael Dickson are available on request.
For more information, please contact:
Hannah Green
Assistant Press Officer
Tel +44 (0)1225 320627
Fax +44 (0)8707 874148
Email hannah.green@burohappold.com
Buro Happold is a multi-disciplinary international practice of consulting engineers established in 1976. It offers civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, quantity surveying, building services and environmental engineering, health and safety management, infrastructure and traffic engineering, ground engineering, façade engineering, fire engineering, computational fluid dynamics analysis, disability design consultancy, project management, urban design and a range of specialist CAD services.
