Civil engineering is arguably the oldest engineering discipline. Designing, constructing and maintaining the built environment dates back to the first time someone built a roof over their head or laid a tree trunk over a river to get across.
Civil engineering professionals have been and still are involved in everything that defines modern civilization. First to come to mind are structural engineering (buildings and bridges) and transportation systems (roads, railways, transit systems and airports). Then there are the less obvious creations of civil engineers (water supply systems, wastewater treatment, aerospace innovations, automotive advances, ship building and more).
In recent times, civil engineers are placing more emphasis on computer vision, building modeling, virtual reality, sustainability, the Internet of Things, 3D printing technologies and more. In addition, civil engineers involved in biomedical engineering focus on areas like joint inflammation, imaging and diagnostic tools, and therapeutic products.
July 1, 1963
Division of Engineering at Calgary is founded at the University of Alberta, Calgary (UAC)
Aug. 1, 1964
Civil Engineering wing, or E Block, is completed
July 1, 1966
Department of Civil Engineering is officially founded when U of C is officially established
Jan. 1, 1967
Dr. Ronald Mills is our first department head
Nov. 1, 1967
Our first PhD student graduates - Dr. M.A. Sheikh
May 26, 1969
Our first graduating class of 21 BSc students walks across the stage
Sept. 1, 1969
Civil Engineering extension is ready for occupancy
Aug. 1, 1969
Dr. Rod de Paiva becomes our second department head
Sept. 1, 1970
Our first female MSc student registers
Nov. 1, 1970
Our first two MEng (non-MSc) degrees are awarded
Nov. 18, 1971
Dr. Peter Glockner is appointed as acting department head
Aug. 1, 1972
Dr. Michael Ward is appointed as our third department head
Aug. 1, 1980
Dr. Bob Loov becomes the acting department head
Aug. 1, 1981
Dr. Ward resumes his appointment as department head following a sabbatical
Aug. 1, 1982
The newly built F Block extension of the engineering complex becomes our new home
July 1, 1984
Dr. Loov becomes our fourth department head
July 1, 1986
Dr. Michel Sargious becomes acting department head
Sept. 15, 1988
Dr. Loov resumes his appointment as department head
July 1, 1989
Dr. Nigel Shrive is appointed as our fifth department head
July 1, 1994
Dr. John Morrall becomes acting department head
July 1, 1995
Dr. Shrive resumes his role as our department head
Jan. 1, 1998
Dr. Tom Brown is appointed as our sixth department head
Jan. 1, 2005
Dr. Ron Wong becomes our acting department head
Jan. 1, 2006
Dr. Brown resumes his role as department head
July 1, 2008
Dr. Ron Wong is appointed as our seventh department head
Aug. 1, 2018
Dr. Jocelyn Hayley is appointed as our eighth department head
July 1, 2023
Dr. Gopal Achari is appointed as our ninth department head