The Civil Engineering Contractor January 2019 | Page 33

PROFILE
www.civilsonline.co.za
build houses. The great thing about
designing structures is that you
can physically see the product of
what you have designed and have a
chance to leave your mark on the
landscape. During university, I had
a professor, Michael Bartlett, who
I really connected with as he made
structural design interesting and
fun. This really solidified my choice
to pursue structural engineering,”
says Klassen.
He began mentoring staff even
while he himself was still on the
receiving end: “Mentoring staff is so
important and is a way to give back
and help others along their path. I
started mentoring staff probably three
years into my career, even though I
was still being mentored by someone
else. There is always someone less
experienced than yourself who can
be helped. Mentoring staff will be a
continuous thing until my retirement.”
A view to aesthetics
Commenting on the lessons he has
learnt along the way, he says: “Over
the years, I have learnt that proper
detailing and considering aesthetics
are very important. This project was
personally important to me because
it challenged and took me out of my
comfort zone. I led the preliminary
and detailed design of this bridge,
which is the first cable-stayed bridge
that I have designed. Pedestrian
bridges really give designers a great
chance to evaluate the site conditions
and come up with the most
appropriate design. They also provide
The Grayston Pedestrian Bridge
forms part of a major pedestrian
and cycling corridor built to
connect residents of Alexandra
Township to Sandton, on either side
of Johannesburg’s notoriously busy
M1 freeway. Every day, in excess of
10 000 people make their way across
the busy M1 highway in Johannesburg
from Alexandra Township to their
jobs in the affluent business hub
of Sandton — this mere 5.2km
journey used to take them hours
across busy roads.
The City of Johannesburg decided
to make this walking route safe and
convenient — and the Great Walk
project was born. The Grayston
Pedestrian Bridge forms an integral
part of this project and now provides
pedestrian and cyclist access into
Sandton. It literally bridges the gap
between two communities with
opposite economic backgrounds
while creating a visually pleasing
gateway into the economic hub of
the country.
Klassen presented a paper he
wrote on the Grayston Pedestrian
Bridge at the IABSE Vancouver
conference in September 2018. “It
is exceptionally fulfilling to proudly
present the work one has been
involved in for three years to the top
structural engineering professors and
consultants in the world.”
Originally from Canada, he
graduated with a BSc Engineering
(Civil/Structural) degree from the
University of Western Ontario in
London, Ontario. After graduation,
he immediately started working
for a civil engineering consultant
in Ontario. “First, I started in the
transportation geometrics group
but after four months there, saw
an opening in the bridge group so I
put my name forward and made the
switch to structures, which is where
my passion is. From that point, I have
never looked back and always have
been in structures.”
Klassen has had a number of
mentors throughout his career. “I
have always enjoyed structures,
probably because my father was a
residential contractor and I spent
many summer holidays helping him
Darryl Klassen (PrEng), structural engineer: Transport & Planning:
Africa at Royal HaskoningDHV.
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