The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) honored William F. Baker, SOM Structural and Civil Engineering Partner, with an Honorary Doctorate on May 16, 2015. The degree was conferred to Baker at IIT’s 2015 Commencement. He is one of three honorary degree recipients for the 2014-2015 academic year. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, gave the keynote address.
Throughout his career, Baker has dedicated himself to extending structural engineering through design, research, teaching, and professional activities. One of his best-known contributions to the profession is the buttressed-core structural system that he developed for the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest manmade structure. Over the course of his career, Baker has also served in multiple advisory roles to the students and faculty of IIT, guiding research and teaching that advances the interconnected fields of architecture and engineering.