From tunnels to bridges to railways to funiculars – no mountain has been high enough to get in the way of Switzerland’s engineers’ push toward progress and efficiency. For Othmar Hermann Ammann that was no different. The mountain standing in his way just so happened to be an island called Manhattan.
Before arriving in America, Ammann’s journey as a structural engineer began in 1898 at ETH Zurich. At the time, aesthetics held a great deal of sway over the approach to the overall design of structures and this was a philosophy that Ammann remained true to throughout his career.
His accomplishments, however, go beyond simply beautiful bridges. In addition to the Hudson Bridge, he also designed the George Washington Bridge, and the Lincoln Tunnel, among many others. In short: he connected Manhattan to the world. More connections, meant more expertise, and tourism, transforming the island into what we now know it as.
In today’s world, Manhattan is one of the globe’s leading financial and cultural centers, with space no longer being an obstacle to opportunity. Despite being New York’s smallest borough, its dense population can regularly grow from 1.63 million to more than 3.9 million thanks to daily commuters crossing the various bridges at their disposal.
Ultimately, Ammann’s structural feats encapsulate the Swiss’ creativity when it comes to making the most of the limited space available. Although he was never really able to achieve the same level of success in his home country, modern-day Swiss engineering continues to echo this approach, striving toward new ways to improve and innovate.
And while commuters in Manhattan may not think about the structures they traverse on their daily route to work, they are living proof that Ammann didn’t just build bridges – he bridged a gap, leaving his mark on the city of New York in the process.
Because whether you’re heading to Manhattan for work, to go sightseeing, or even to visit family or friends, odds are you’ll need to cross one of his bridges to get there.