Emil Praeger

He was born in 1882.

Praeger graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1915.[1] He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, after which he spent time at the architectural office of Bertram Goodhue and the New York City engineering firm Madigan-Hyland.[2]

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.[3] He also acted as head of the civil engineering department at RPI from 1939-1946.

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.[1]

Praeger served as consulting engineer on the White House renovations in 1949.[4]

He died on October 16, 1973.

• 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