15 Jun 2015
Loughborough University professor wins top civil engineering award
Professor Thorpe receives the William Kemp award from ICE President David Balmforth
One of the major events of the regional built environment calendar, the 2015 Awards recognised outstanding examples of East Midlands’ design and construction completed in 2014.
The William Kemp award is the ICE East Midlands premier award recognising civil engineering excellence and is presented to an individual whose sustained contribution to civil engineering in the East Midlands, over many years, is of particular magnitude and stature.
The judges identified and rewarded Professor Thorpe’s instrumental work in establishing Loughborough University as a leading learning centre for civil engineering study.
David Balmforth, ICE President, and Adrian Coy, Vice President, presented the awards at a black-tie dinner attended by over 360 guests on June 5.
The judges said: “Professor Thorpe has established both a national and international reputation that is of great benefit to the profession, and has led research projects in the East Midlands over many years to advance civil engineering knowledge and capability.
“Professor Thorpe received the award for his leadership in establishing internationally recognised civil engineering study, for being influential in providing young people with the knowledge and ambition to succeed within our industry, and for his drive in bringing to the East Midland's first-class research and development capability to create technological solutions to meet today's engineering needs.
“His approach is one of heavy engagement with industry to ensure that the development of students and the research programme is aligned with industry needs. Congratulations to Professor Tony Thorpe and Loughborough University.”
Professor Thorpe said: "I feel highly honoured that my contribution to civil engineering has been recognised by my peers with this award. It came as a complete surprise, and I'm delighted to be associated with the excellence in our industry which was evident through the diverse and important projects showcased at the awards ceremony."
ICE East Midlands Chairman, Andy Warrington who presided over this year’s awards ceremony added: “These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the civil engineering profession with the inspirational people and teams delivering projects across our region. Congratulations to Tony for gaining this top award.”
Notes for editors
Article reference number: PR 15/114
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named University of the Year in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2015.Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. It was 2nd in the 2015 THE Student Experience Survey and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.