// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Olaf Kier a good snowman builder? Kier he?
Olaf Hector Kier (born Kiaer), CBE (c.1899 - 1986) was the founder of Kier Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest construction businesses.
Career
[edit]Born and educated in Denmark as Olaf Kiaer,[1] Olaf graduated with a honours degree in Engineering from the University of Copenhagen.[2] After a short period in the Danish Navy, following his father Hector Frederik Kiaer (Admiral and Captain of the King's ship Dannebrog)'s foot steps,[3] he then moved to London to learn English and to pursue his career.[4] He initially worked for Christiani & Nielsen where he worked on various projects involving concrete.[5]
Together with Jorgen Lotz, he founded Lotz & Kier, a construction business, in 1928.[1] The business name was changed to J.L. Kier & Co Ltd a few years later, after Lotz withdrew from the company in the early 1930s.[6]
In 1941 he acquired the Lexham Hall Estate near Litcham in Norfolk but, in 1945, when he saw the condition that the Army had left it in, decided to put it back on the market.[7] He instead acquired the Cokenach Estate near Barkway in Hertfordshire.[8] In 1965 he established the Olaf Kier Danish Charity.[9]
After the Second World War, a contract was awarded to J.L. Kier & Co, Nuttall and some Dutch contractors to rebuild the devastated Rotterdam docks.[10]
Further major infrastructure projects included the M2 Medway Bridge and many power stations.[6]
He was a member of the Danish Club at 62 Knightsbridge[4] and was awarded made CBE for industrial and social services in 1970.[11] He died in a motor accident in May 1986 aged 87.[8]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Ove Arup: masterbuilder of the twentieth century By Peter Jones Yale University Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-300-11296-2, Page 54
- ↑ "Heritage". Team BFK. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- ↑ "Kiær, Hector F." Flådens Historie. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- 1 2 "People and Places I remember when..." (PDF). Kier Link. 1 April 2004. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011.
- ↑ Cottam, D. (1985). Architectural principles in an age of functionalism: A study of the architect-engineer in British architecture of the inter-war period (PDF) (Thesis). University of Liverpool. p. 256. doi:10.17638/03175391.
- 1 2 "J. L. Kier and Co". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ "Lexham Estate". Parks and Gardens. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012.
- 1 2 "History: The Later Years". Cokenach Cricket Club. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012.
- ↑ "Olaf Kier Danish Charity". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
- ↑ A recent example of engineering work. The West Indian Review. 1961.
Kier & Company. This vigorous British firm has made a name in four continents, having played a part in such large projects as the Rotterdam port.
- ↑ "No. 45117". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 April 1918. p. 6373.
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