Bio:
The great designer, Mr. Garber has over 30 years’ experience as structural engineer. He has designed numerous structures utilizing all different building materials; steel, concrete, masonry, light gage and timber. His projects have ranged from commemorative memorials, home/office renovations to museums, schools and airport terminal construction. He has been involved in all facets of the design and construction process from concept and schematic design through construction administration.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
My interest in buildings and the built environment started in appreciating the architecture of some of the buildings in my high school. My interest in structural engineering also developed in Sierra Leone.

What do you do?
I am the Director of Building at Gedeon GRC. My primary role is to oversee the structural engineering services and team at Gedeon GRC Consulting, business development and marketing for structural engineering services.

What excites you in the work you do?
Part of what excites me about the work I do is being able to provide architects with practical and elegant structural solutions to problems they encounter in their design and seeing the completion of projects.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
I started my engineering career at Arup and as inspired by Sir Ove Arup. I am also inspired by the work of architects that have pushed the envelope in structural design like Norman Forster, Renzo Piano and Frank Lloyd Wright.
 
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
It is difficult to categorically state what has been my proudest achievement but the following have been very meaningful to me; the Mashantucket Pequot Museum of Research and Culture, the African Burial Ground and the Ark of Return at the UN.

Featured Project Name: 
Bunce Island Slave Castle Stabilization and Preservation
 
Featured Project Location: 
Bunce Island, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
Ongoing

Role in Featured Project: 
Structural Engineer
 
Featured Project Description:
The Bunce Island Slave Castle is the last remaining fort that was built on this island between 1670 and 1796. It was central to the British Transatlantic Slave Trade. Its strategic location in the Sierra Leone River ensured it was the most important slave fort for the British. After being abandoned in the early 1800’s, it was rediscovered in the 1950’s. Preservation efforts are underway to arrest natural deterioration and to ensure it is a tourism destination in the country for the foreseeable future.

Photography Credit:
Melbourne Garber, C. Eng