Speech Story

Giroux presents challenges of building the Brooklyn Bridge


The Heald Auditorium overflowed with people Monday as students, faculty and staff were treated to Paul Giroux as he spoke about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and the challenges its engineers faced as part of The College of Engineering and Architecture’s Lanning Distinguished Lecture.

"I really am speechless," Giroux said. "I'm hoping to get a few intelligent words out - this is probably the largest group I've spoken to."

Giroux, who was the American Society of Civil Engineers' chairman for the Brooklyn Bridge 125th celebration in May 2008, has worked with Kiewit Corporation for the last 30 years. He has worked on projects such as Baltimore's Fort McHenry Tunnel and the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge Skyway Project. He is an expert on the Brooklyn Bridge and has done extensive research on its construction.

During his years of research, Giroux read several in-depth books on the Brooklyn Bridge and studied many drawings and photographs of its progressing construction. He presented his findings using advanced visual technology to engage the audience in the entire building process.

Giroux began his presentation by quoting Sir Isaac Newton, who said, "We build too many walls and not enough bridges." Giroux said bridges not only help people get over rivers and canyons, but also over the walls, enabling us to reach social progress. He said that at the time the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began, it was considered a controversial subject, being called a nuisance by some skeptics.

The construction began with John Roebling overseeing the project. He was injured while working by the ferries and later died in 1869. His son, Washington Roebling, took over his duties from there. Giroux said Washington and his workers faced many challenges during the 10-plus years of the bridge’s construction. Along with the massive current in the East River, workers were faced with the challenges of building the bottom caisson, the towers and engineering the cables.

Giroux said there were 10 known deaths from what was then referred to as Caisson Disease (now known as The Bends) from the extreme increase in pressure while working down in the caisson. Washington himself became physically incapacitated because of this disease. In the end, Giroux said 27 lives were lost during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. After Washington became unable to work, his wife, Emily Roebling, took over his responsibilities.

“Not only did they have to overcome many unprecedented challenges, they also had to overcome the doubts of their profession, political distractions and often a hostile press,” Giroux said.

Candis Claiborn, dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture, said she thought Giroux’s points about how builders now have different viewpoints about safety than they did when the Brooklyn Bridge was being constructed were very interesting. She said the knowledge the bridge engineers had during this time amazed her.

“It was very revealing to see that the engineers who were designing this bridge were thinking about things way beyond their capabilities at the time,” Claiborn said.

Michaela Ripley, a construction management major who attended Giroux’s presentation, said she thought the entire speech was extremely interesting.

“It’s really interesting that they haven’t even had to do any major changes or renovations to the bridge since it was built,” she said.

In the end, Giroux’s presentation really was a tribute to those engineers who risked their lives to build such a complex structure.

He said, “So, in reverence, we pay tribute to the Roeblings – not only for the Brooklyn Bridge – but also for their character, their courage and example.”

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Sources Contact Information

Paul Giroux

Candis Claiborn - Phone Number: 509-335-5593
E-mail: claiborn@wsu.edu

Michaela Ripley - E-mail: mripley@wsu.edu

Three questions for speaker

1. How long did it take you do all this research on the Brooklyn Bridge?
2. What challenges have you faced during your engineering and building projects?
3. What prompted you to focus so much attention on the Brooklyn Bridge?