Kristoffer Olsen Oustad
Encyclopedia
Kristoffer Olsen Oustad (Died February 13, 1943) was a Norwegian
-American
engineer
who designed major structures in the United States. Often working together with three other Norwegian-American engineers (Martin Sigvart Grytbak
, Andreas W. Munster and Frederick William Cappelen
) he designed bridges and other buildings.
Oustad was born on the Oustad farm in Romedal
Parish, Hedmark
county in the historic region of Østlandet
, Norway
. He was educated at the Technical College in Trondhjem
(now Norwegian University of Science and Technology
), graduating in 1882. He attended the Royal Saxon Polytechnicum (now Dresden University of Technology
) in Dresden, Germany before emigrating to the United States.
He joined the Minneapolis City Engineer's Office in 1883 and became Municipal Bridge Engineer in 1893. Oustad designed the Cedar Avenue Bridge, assisted by Frederick T. Paul, assistant bridge engineer, under the direction of city engineer N.W. Elsberg. Oustad assisted Frederick William Cappelen in the design of the Third Avenue Bridge
and the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge
. He completed the Cappelen Memorial Bridge when Cappelen died. Oustad retired in 1929, after the Cedar Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis was completed.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
who designed major structures in the United States. Often working together with three other Norwegian-American engineers (Martin Sigvart Grytbak
Martin Sigvart Grytbak
Martin Sigvart Grytbak was one of four innovative and influential Norwegian-American engineers that were involved in the design of the great bridges of the Twin Cities. The others are Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, Andreas W...
, Andreas W. Munster and Frederick William Cappelen
Frederick William Cappelen
Frederick William Cappelen was a Norwegian-born architect and civil engineer who held the office of Minneapolis City Engineer.Frederick William Cappelen was born in Drammen, Norway...
) he designed bridges and other buildings.
Oustad was born on the Oustad farm in Romedal
Romedal
Romedal is a former municipality in Hedmark county, NorwayRomedal was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with Stange January 1, 1964.-History:...
Parish, Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
county in the historic region of Østlandet
Østlandet
Eastern Norway or Austlandet ) is the geographical region of the south-eastern part of Norway. It consists of the counties Telemark, Vestfold, Østfold, Akershus, Oslo , Buskerud, Oppland and Hedmark....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He was educated at the Technical College in Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
(now Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
), graduating in 1882. He attended the Royal Saxon Polytechnicum (now Dresden University of Technology
Dresden University of Technology
The Technische Universität Dresden is the largest institute of higher education in the city of Dresden, the largest university in Saxony and one of the 10 largest universities in Germany with 36,066 students...
) in Dresden, Germany before emigrating to the United States.
He joined the Minneapolis City Engineer's Office in 1883 and became Municipal Bridge Engineer in 1893. Oustad designed the Cedar Avenue Bridge, assisted by Frederick T. Paul, assistant bridge engineer, under the direction of city engineer N.W. Elsberg. Oustad assisted Frederick William Cappelen in the design of the Third Avenue Bridge
Third Avenue Bridge (Minneapolis)
The Third Avenue Bridge is a landmark structure of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, originally known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge. It carries road traffic across the Mississippi River and right over the upper fringes of Saint Anthony Falls...
and the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge
Franklin Avenue Bridge
The Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, carries Franklin Avenue over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was designed by Frederick William Cappelen, assisted by Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, both of whom were among four important Norwegian-American...
. He completed the Cappelen Memorial Bridge when Cappelen died. Oustad retired in 1929, after the Cedar Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis was completed.
Source
- Bjork, Kenneth O.Kenneth O. BjorkKenneth O. Bjork was an American professor, historian and author. He served as managing editor for publications at the Norwegian-American Historical Association over a twenty year period.-Background:...
Saga in Steel and Concrete - Norwegian Engineers in America ( Northfield, Minnesota: Norwegian-American Historical AssociationNorwegian-American Historical AssociationNorwegian-American Historical Association publishes scholarly books, documenting research and interpretations of the American experience of immigrant Norwegians....
. 1947)
See also
- Cedar Avenue Bridge
- Third Avenue BridgeThird Avenue Bridge (Minneapolis)The Third Avenue Bridge is a landmark structure of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, originally known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge. It carries road traffic across the Mississippi River and right over the upper fringes of Saint Anthony Falls...
- F.W. Cappelen Memorial BridgeFranklin Avenue BridgeThe Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, carries Franklin Avenue over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was designed by Frederick William Cappelen, assisted by Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, both of whom were among four important Norwegian-American...