Fazlur Rahman Khan, born on April 3, 1929, in Dhaka, Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh), was a pioneering structural engineer and architect who revolutionized modern skyscraper design. Khan earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Bengal Engineering College (now IIEST Shibpur) in India and later pursued advanced studies in the United States, obtaining a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He joined the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1955, where he developed groundbreaking structural systems that shaped iconic buildings worldwide.
Khan's most notable contributions include the tubular design concept, which he used in the construction of the John Hancock Center (1969) and the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower, 1973) in Chicago. These designs significantly improved the efficiency and stability of tall buildings, reducing wind sway and material usage. Beyond his engineering achievements, Khan was an advocate for sustainable urban development and a professor at the University of Illinois. He received numerous awards, including the AIA Gold Medal (1972) and the ASCE's OPAL Award (1983). Khan's legacy lives on as one of the most influential engineers of the 20th century, and his innovations continue to define modern architecture.