RBA Engineer Contributes Article to Structure Magazine

Troy, NY – September 28, 2006 – David T. Biggs, P.E., Principal of Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C., in Troy, NY, authored an article titled, “Restoration of Egyptian Monuments” for Structure magazine. The article, featured in the September 2006 issue, highlights his experience as a consultant to the Republic of Egypt for the preservation and restoration of their historical masonry structures.

Mr. Biggs was on a team of six architects and engineers from the US, Portugal, Germany, Italy, and Canada that proposed restoration guidelines for heritage and monument structures in Egypt. Since the restoration efforts are primarily structural, the team included individuals with expertise in materials and structural behavior of historical structures. During development of the guidelines, the team toured such monuments as the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, The Valley of the Kings, and numerous temples and tombs. The team reviewed existing structural restoration techniques and presented the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) with a draft outline of proposed guidelines. The draft is currently under review.

The article focuses on these proposed restoration guidelines and features numerous photographs of the historical structures. The desire is that these guidelines will help Egyptian heritage professionals execute proper planning and implementation of an agreed upon approach to their restoration projects. It will assist authorities to control the conservation work in Egypt, ensuring the longevity of the monuments.

David Biggs is a masonry specialist with over thirty years of experience. He was elected an Honorary Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2005 based upon his engineering expertise with historical restoration and forensic evaluation of structures. Ryan-Biggs Associates has been involved with the restoration of over 300 historical buildings and structures in the United States. Over 80 of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service, which is part of the US Department of the Interior, and 10 have been designated “Save America’s Treasures,” a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service. Some of Mr. Biggs current restoration projects include the Jean Hasbrouck House (c 1680) in New Paltz, NY, Fort Ticonderoga (1754) in Ticonderoga, NY, Hacienda Santa Elena (c 1790) in Puerto Rico, and the Bennington Battle Monument (1889) in Bennington, VT. Mr. Biggs chairs the Prestressed Subcommittee for the MSJC 530 code and was a member of the ASCE-FEMA Building Performance Study team for the World Trade Center Disaster.

About Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C.
Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C., is a consulting engineering firm specializing in structural engineering. Since 1973, they have been providing design services from their main office in Troy, New York, and branch offices in Skaneateles, New York, and West Chester, Pennsylvania.

About Structure Magazine
Structure magazine is an international publication which focuses on structural engineering and issues concerning construction materials, methods, design, and analysis techniques for buildings, bridges, and special and unique structures. The magazine has a readership of approximately 30,000.