The Calculated Advantage of French Engineers

During the 19th century, French engineers earned a reputation as innovators in the design and construction of large buildings using iron and steel. There is, of course, the example of the Eiffel Tower, the 300-meter iron structure in the center of Paris recognized throughout the world. When it was built in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was, by far, the tallest structure ever made, a record it held for 40 years. The secret behind the French advantage in building design revolutionized the engineering profession. Engineers look at the world in a particular way. The word “engineer” derives from words that meant devious or clever device. Harvard professor Antoin Picon, who studies the history of engineers, finds that all engineers share certain habits of mind.[1] Engineers value rationality above all else. They solve complex problems by breaking them down into their component parts. The engineering method relies on experience, empirical knowledge, and the tried-and-true process of trial and error, which has been an important tool for builders and inventors since before there have been engineers.[2] <a href="https://medium.com/eiffels-paris-an-engineers-guide/the-calculating-advantage-of-french-engineers-7e0e862e5a7f">Read More</a>