Join structural engineer and author of Saving Michelangelo’s Dome Wayne Kalayjian for a fascinating discussion of art, architecture, and the birth of modern engineering, accompanied by a visual presentation. 

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. You can also request a copy from the library.

About the Book

The year is 1742. The famous dome atop St. Peter’s Basilica—designed by Michelangelo—is badly cracked and threatened with collapse. It is the pride of Italy and among the largest and most complex structures ever built. No one knows how to fix it.

This is the dramatic and little-known story of how three mathematicians and a pope pushed the boundaries of science to steer Michelangelo’s dome from the brink of disaster. In saving the dome, these four pioneers revolutionized the world of architecture and launched an entirely new way to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

About the Author

Wayne Kalayjian is a civil and structural engineer who has designed bridges, buildings, tunnels, airports, pipelines, railroads, data centers, and power stations around the world. Kalayjian lectures at the University of Southern California and is an engineering expert for the California Department of Consumer Affairs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and art history from Tufts University, a master’s degree in structural engineering from Stanford University, and a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is his first book.