Edinburgh, Scotland: William F. Baker, Partner in Charge of Structural Engineering for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (SOM), has been named honorary Doctor of Engineering by Heriot-Watt University in recognition of his distinguished career and influential contribution in the field of structural engineering. “There are only a select number of engineers in the world that can truly say they have designed structures that have a global impact .Bill is one of those engineers,” Professor Peter Woodward, (and Head of Heriot Watt’s Institute for Infrastructure and Environment) says. “Bill’s philosophy of pushing the boundaries with new, innovative technologies and techniques aligns closely with our own aspirations for our graduates.” This is Baker’s second honorary degree. He also received an honorary doctorate in engineering from the University of Stuttgart (Germany) in 2011.
About Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban-planning firms in the world, with a 75-year reputation for design excellence and a portfolio that includes some of the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment. The firm’s longstanding leadership in design and building technology has been honored with more than 1,700 awards for quality, innovation, and management. The American Institute of Architects has recognized SOM twice with its highest honor, the Architecture Firm Award—in 1962 and again in 1996. The firm maintains offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi.