Andy Buchanan

Andy Buchanan is a semi-retired structural engineer who grew up on the Port Hills of Christchurch. After obtaining a Civil Engineering degree at the University of Canterbury in 1969, he alternated between engineering jobs and study abroad. He completed a Masters degree in California and a PhD in British Columbia, before establishing a structural consulting firm in Christchurch. Andy moved to the University of Canterbury in 1987, where he specialised in earthquake resistance, fire safety, and the carbon footprint of multi-storey timber buildings. He taught thousands of students before stepping down in 2014. His busy retirement activities include part-time structural engineering and the pursuit of interests in family, forestry, and conservation, as well as frequent trips to the mountains to seek images for his oil paintings.