Trygve Bjornstad

Honorary Member 1988February 7, 1913 - September 23, 2000

Trygve Bjornstad, born in Norway, came to Seattle with his parents at age 7, speaking no English. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1931, and earned a civil engineering degree at UW in 1935.

He worked for the old Milwaukee Railroad, then learned practical engineering in work with John Graham, Peter Hostmark, and Melvin O. Sylliaasen.

In 1956, along with Art Andersen and Tom Kane, "Tryg" formed the Seattle-based firm later known as Andersen Bjornstad Kane Jacobs/ABKJ, a firm with many civil and structural design achievements. During his tenure, the firm developed the Arco Base Camp on Alaska's North Slope, and Boeing and UW buildings.

He designed the Aquadrome circular water ski exhibit at the 1962 World's Fair, and told friends that "the hardest part was getting the damned elephants onto the center island" -- a circus performance area. His design incorporated a special bridge for the reluctant animals.

He also served on the Seattle Building Code Advisory Board.

Posted April 2012

Sources include Seattle P-I obituary