William E. Lardner
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Mr. Bill Lardner (1927-2018) graduated in Civil Engineering in 1952 from the University of Birmingham. He then emigrated to Canada where he built a successful career in the construction industry. His company, Deep Foundations Contractors Inc., was recognised as one of the most innovative geotechnical construction engineering companies. Deep Foundations was committed to seeking new and innovative ways to provide the products and services needed by the construction industry. Deep Foundations was recognized for its safety commitment by receiving The International Association of Foundation Drilling award for the best safety record in North America. The company completed more than 2,000 projects across Canada, the U.S. and Caribbean. |
He was involved in many of the projects that dominate the lives of Canadians and North Americans:
- CN Tower
- Rogers Centre in Toronto (formerly known as the Skydome)
- Ontario Place
- Toronto City Hall
- TTC expansion
- Number of innovations to the deep foundations and shoring industry in Ontario: secant pile walls, soil anchors, CFA piles, among others
- Underground rail tunnel joining Sarnia, Ontario, with Port Huron, Michigan.
Mr. Lardner was a past member of the Standing Committee for Structural Design for the National Building Code established by the National Research Council. He was the recipient of the Meyerhof Award from the Canadian Geotechnical Society in recognition of his contributions to Canadian science and engineering, and 1998 recipient of the Toronto Construction Association Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
Lardner credited Western Engineering, and particularly retired professor, Dr. Hugh Peacock, for providing Deep Foundations Inc. with outstanding young engineering graduates who helped the company become an industry leader. Mr. Lardner and his wife Ruth gave back to Western by establishing an endowed graduate award for engineers who have spent some time working with industry and have decided to enhance their understanding of technical issues in the area of geotechnical/structural interface by returning to school to pursue a graduate degree.
The William E. & Ruth Lardner Graduate Award was created to foster emerging leaders who will bring new and innovative ways to support unique geotechnical issues faced by the construction industry.
