The Michel Bakhoum International Collaboration Award, founded in 2024, honors the memory of Prof. Michel Bakhoum, an ACI member and internationally known structural engineer, researcher and educator. The award is given for outstanding contribution to international collaborations for the progress of knowledge on reinforced and pre-stressed concrete and the development/application of ACI codes, specifications and guides worldwide for innovations in design and construction practices of concrete structures.

Born in Cairo in June 1913, Bakhoum was recognized as a leader in the field of structural engineering, particularly in Egypt and the region. His vast knowledge of design and construction methods served him in the roles of structural consulting engineer, professor, researcher and code developer.

Bakhoum held a PhD degree in civil engineering from Cairo University and a second PhD degree from University of Illinois. He did post-doctoral studies at Columbia University, focusing on the theory of elasticity and applied mathematics.

Bakhoum taught at Cairo University from 1937 until he passed away in 1981. He was head of the reinforced concrete research laboratory at Cairo University from 1951 until 1958. Bakhoum also taught at Ain Shams University in Cairo and Assiut University in south Egypt. He authored many technical papers, as well as a book entitled “Structural Mechanics.” He also supervised several researchers for M.Sc. and PhD degrees.

In 1950, Bakhoum started a consulting engineering partnership. The firm is currently known as “Arab Consulting Engineers: Moharram – Bakhoum.” ACE is one of the leading consulting engineering firms in Egypt and the Middle East.

Bakhoum was a member of several engineering societies, including the American Concrete Institute, IABSE and Egyptian Engineering Society, as well as a fellow of the Institution of Structural and ASCE. He also worked on many code committees with the Building Research Institute. His many awards include the Prince Omar Tosson Award, Egyptian Republic Award, Award for Science, and Award for Trade and Industry.

This award was established by the initiative and naming financial support of Rami Awad, Taha Dhaouadi, Mohamed Farouk, Raad Hamood, Kačičnik Family, Dr. Adel Labib, Dr. George Morcous, Dr. Sami Rizkalla, Walid Sabbeh, Sherif Younan, family and friends of Bakhoum, and e. Construct, structural engineering consultants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Omaha, Nebraska; Orlando, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

More information regarding the ACI Awards Program can be found at concrete.org.