Elie Radu

Elie Radu (April 20, 1853 – October 10, 1931) was a distinguished Romanian civil engineer and academic. Over a span of some 50 years he completed over 60 major projects, constructing railways, roads, bridges, public buildings, and civic facilities. in Botoșani, he went to study at the Academia Mihăileană in Iași, and then in 1872 to Brussels, where he studied engineering at the École polytechnique, obtaining his diploma in 1877.

Projects

Railways and train stations

Upon returning to Romania, he found employment with the Ministry of Public Works, and worked with engineer Anghel Saligny on the construction of the Ploiești–Predeal rail line. He went on to design and build over of railway lines, and design an additional of tracks — a substantial portion of the rail network of Căile Ferate Române at the time. inspired by the design of the Lausanne railway station. In the aftermath of World War I and the Union of Transylvania with Romania, Radu helped build new roads and railways across the Carpathian mountain passes, the most important one being the Târgu Ocna–Comănești–Palanca rail line. Together with a fellow engineer, Dimitrie Leonida, Radu made in 1909–1910 the first proposals for a metro system in Bucharest.

Public buildings

In 1906–1910 he supervised the construction of the , which was designed by architect Petre Antonescu. Built with a foundation made of reinforced concrete screed thick, and with reinforced concrete floors, the building now houses the .

Academic career In 1894 Radu was named professor at the School of Bridges and Roads, Mines and Architecture in Bucharest. In 1897–1898 and 1903–1904 he served as president of the General Association of Engineers of Romania. Starting in 1920 he taught at the newly founded Politehnica University of Bucharest. and retired on January 1, 1930.

Legacy

A street in Bucharest (running by City Hall, from the Cișmigiu Gardens to the Dâmbovița River) bears his name. Technical high schools in Bucharest, Ploiești, and Botoșani are also named after him. The where he lived next to Grădina Icoanei was designed by Giulio Magni; it has been designated a historic monument, and currently houses a bistro.