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Arthur James Establishes $500,000 Endowed Professorship in Structural Engineering at PSU
Portland State University's College of Engineering and Computer Science received a $500,000 professorship endowment from Arthur (Art) M. James, a semi-retired Portland structural engineering consultant.
"The Arthur M. James Professorship will provide Portland State University and the College with visibility in the area of structural engineering and will elevate its national reputation," said Robert D. Dryden, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The James Professorship is designated to a structural engineering professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department within the College. The selection criteria include excellence in teaching, research, academic leadership, and service to the profession through leadership roles in technical and professional organizations at local and national levels.
James, 82, is currently writing his memoirs on structural failures with the working title, "Locomotive in the River and Other Stories from 50 Years of Investigating Structural Failures." A full-page article about the impending book was published in the August 27, 2002, edition of The Oregonian entitled "Error and engineering." He has also written numerous articles for engineering publications and has participated in Portland State seminars on structural failures, working with the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Emeritus H. Chik M. Erzurumlu and Professor Franz N. Rad.
In 1942, James graduated from City College of New York with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and completed a Senior R.O.T.C. course in 1943. James worked for a structural welding consultant, Gilbert Fish, while studying for his master's at Brooklyn Polytechnic University until he entered the military in early 1943. His initial training was at Fort Belvoir in Virginia as an engineer officer, followed by training at the Air Force Intelligence Academy in Harrisburg, Pa. He was then assigned to the Central Pacific Theater as part of the 7th Air Force. After his discharge in 1946, James returned to New York and was hired by Waddell and Hardesty, where he worked on the design of a new bascule bridge for the city of Buffalo, N.Y.
Prior to the birth of his first child, James moved to Portland and worked for the city of Portland, Bridges Division, as a structural engineer, and then worked for Kellex on the Hanford Nuclear Works site in Richmond, Washington. James returned to Portland and worked for an engineering firm and an architect before forming a partnership with Frank Honey in 1951. James and Honey Engineers initially worked mainly for architects on schools and commercial buildings while also designing industrial buildings docks, and short span bridges. James became interested in failure investigations and began attracting clients such as insurance adjusters, owners and underwriters.
James' inventions include the first world patent for a Precast-Prestressed Concrete Tank, a Method of Jumping a Climbing Crane, a Lubritube Bearing Member, a Sanitary Grating, and others. He works as a semi-retired structural engineering consultant to Nishkian Dean, consulting and structural engineers, in downtown Portland's Spalding Building, the building where he has worked since opening his original firm in 1951. Art James and his wife, Sandra Hardtla James, live in the Portland area.
Located in the heart of Oregon's Silicon Forest and largest urban area, the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University is uniquely positioned to deliver progressive engineering education. By teaming with regional industry and government, the College's faculty members keep the curriculum current and prepare PSU students to make an immediate contribution to the workforce through participation in Capstone design projects, internships and research opportunities. During the 2002-03 academic year, the College had a total enrollment of 1,964 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.
"The Arthur M. James Professorship will provide Portland State University and the College with visibility in the area of structural engineering and will elevate its national reputation," said Robert D. Dryden, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The James Professorship is designated to a structural engineering professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department within the College. The selection criteria include excellence in teaching, research, academic leadership, and service to the profession through leadership roles in technical and professional organizations at local and national levels.
James, 82, is currently writing his memoirs on structural failures with the working title, "Locomotive in the River and Other Stories from 50 Years of Investigating Structural Failures." A full-page article about the impending book was published in the August 27, 2002, edition of The Oregonian entitled "Error and engineering." He has also written numerous articles for engineering publications and has participated in Portland State seminars on structural failures, working with the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Emeritus H. Chik M. Erzurumlu and Professor Franz N. Rad.
In 1942, James graduated from City College of New York with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and completed a Senior R.O.T.C. course in 1943. James worked for a structural welding consultant, Gilbert Fish, while studying for his master's at Brooklyn Polytechnic University until he entered the military in early 1943. His initial training was at Fort Belvoir in Virginia as an engineer officer, followed by training at the Air Force Intelligence Academy in Harrisburg, Pa. He was then assigned to the Central Pacific Theater as part of the 7th Air Force. After his discharge in 1946, James returned to New York and was hired by Waddell and Hardesty, where he worked on the design of a new bascule bridge for the city of Buffalo, N.Y.
Prior to the birth of his first child, James moved to Portland and worked for the city of Portland, Bridges Division, as a structural engineer, and then worked for Kellex on the Hanford Nuclear Works site in Richmond, Washington. James returned to Portland and worked for an engineering firm and an architect before forming a partnership with Frank Honey in 1951. James and Honey Engineers initially worked mainly for architects on schools and commercial buildings while also designing industrial buildings docks, and short span bridges. James became interested in failure investigations and began attracting clients such as insurance adjusters, owners and underwriters.
James' inventions include the first world patent for a Precast-Prestressed Concrete Tank, a Method of Jumping a Climbing Crane, a Lubritube Bearing Member, a Sanitary Grating, and others. He works as a semi-retired structural engineering consultant to Nishkian Dean, consulting and structural engineers, in downtown Portland's Spalding Building, the building where he has worked since opening his original firm in 1951. Art James and his wife, Sandra Hardtla James, live in the Portland area.
Located in the heart of Oregon's Silicon Forest and largest urban area, the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University is uniquely positioned to deliver progressive engineering education. By teaming with regional industry and government, the College's faculty members keep the curriculum current and prepare PSU students to make an immediate contribution to the workforce through participation in Capstone design projects, internships and research opportunities. During the 2002-03 academic year, the College had a total enrollment of 1,964 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.
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