Complex to honor careers of civil engineering leaders

The new headquarters of the University's department of civil, environmental and architectural engineering will honor the careers of three KU alumni who led the Kansas City-based international engineering firm Black & Veatch.

Named the Veatch-Robinson Complex, the department's new home will honor the careers of the late Nathan Thomas "Tom" Veatch Jr., e'09, g '24, co-founder of Black & Veatch; former Board Chairman Thomas B. Robinson, e'39; and former Board Chairman John H. "Jack" Robinson, e'49.

Construction of the complex began in July on what is now the second-floor roof of Learned Hall at 15th Street and Naismith Drive. It will include faculty offices, a conference room and administrative office space for the department, which was formed in 2001 when the architectural engineering program merged with the civil and environmental engineering program. The Veatch-Robinson Complex is expected to be completed by December 2003. Construction of the complex is in addition to a major School of Engineering expansion, which will be completed this fall.

A total of $600,000 has been donated to the Kansas University Endowment Association to fund the complex. Jane Veatch Barber, c '42, a daughter of Tom Veatch, pledged $200,000 for the project. Tom Robinson, a nephew, also pledged $200,000. An additional $200,000 was provided through other Veatch and Robinson family members and friends.

"The Veatch-Robinson Complex will provide a central, consolidated location for the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering," Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "Moreover, it will provide a wonderful opportunity to recognize the legacy and accomplishments of Tom Veatch, Tom Robinson and his brother Jack Robinson, who each made outstanding contributions to the civil engineering profession. We are grateful to the Robinson and Veatch families, without whom this complex would not be possible."

Stan Rolfe, the Alfred P. Learned Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, said plans for the conference room call for a display of photographs and memorabilia—including Tom Veatch's old slide rule—from the careers of the three men.

Tom Veatch, who died in 1975, formed a partnership with E.B. Black in 1915 to create Black & Veatch. After Black's death in 1949, he expanded the firm, which specialized in wastewater and power design. He continued as senior partner until he retired in 1972 at age 86. The company he helped found and direct for more than 55 years now has 2,000 employees worldwide.

Jane Veatch Barber, who lives in Lawrence, worked as a secretary for her father in the Kansas City Country Club Plaza office of the firm during World War II. She said he worked hard to build the company and remained loyal to KU, where he was a trustee of KU Endowment and a chairman of the Kansas Alumni Association.

"We are giving for the complex and naming it for him because we are proud of him, and we knew how fond he was of KU," she said. "He would have been happy to have something done for the engineering school."

Both Tom and Jack Robinson worked with Tom Veatch at the company. Tom Robinson, who also holds a master's degree in civil engineering from Columbia University in New York, started as an assistant engineer in 1940. The Prairie Village, Kan., resident left Black & Veatch briefly to serve in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps during World War II. Upon his return, he rose through the company to be partner in 1956. He was named the first chairman of the board following Tom Veatch's retirement. Tom Robinson served as chairman from 1972 until his retirement in 1982.

"What I remember about my uncle was that whatever he did, he did it well," said Tom Robinson, who is a KU Endowment trustee emeritus. "That's the reason I wanted to support this project, to do something to recognize Tom Veatch."

Tom said another reason was because he and Jack are part of a long Jayhawk legacy that goes back to David Hamilton Robinson, one of the first faculty members of the University of Kansas. Five generations of Robinsons have attended KU.

Jack Robinson, who retired as chairman of the board of Black and Veatch in 1992, began his career at the company immediately after graduating from KU. He became partner in 1956 and managing partner in 1983. He is a past president of the Alumni Association and a former chair of the advisory board of the School of Engineering.

Gifts from the Veatch and Robinson families and friends count toward the $500 million goal of KU First: Invest in Excellence, the largest fund-raising campaign in KU history. KU Endowment is conducting KU First on behalf of KU through 2004 to raise funds for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, non-profit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.