Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
This collection contains research and project material created by Paul Zia. Included are the materials for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move, work with corrosion resistant alloy steel (MMFX) and reinforced concrete, the planning for the University of Tennessee Arena repair, the Crystal River Nuclear Plant containment investigation, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) reports, conference and workshop proceedings, and instructional materials from Zia's time as a professor at North Carolina State University. Topics covered include Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, reinforced concrete, the Crystal River Nuclear Plant, the University of Tennessee Arena, North Carolina State University faculty, civil engineering, and the North Carolina State University Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. The materials span the time period 1953-2018, with recent articles and displays reflecting on the success of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move.
For over 50 years, Paul Zia taught, researched, and consulted in many areas of concrete materials, reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, and construction. Zia joined the civil engineering faculty at North Carolina State University in 1961. He advised more than 60 masters and doctoral students at North Carolina State University. He conducted sponsored research on many aspects of prestressed and reinforced concrete, including torsion and shear, bond and development length, loss of prestress, applications of high performance and high strength concrete, self-consolidating concrete, jointless bridge deck, and cracking in large prestressed concrete girders. His studies also included fatigue strength of cracked prestressed concrete girders, assessment of high performance concrete bridges, development of non-destructive test method for measuring air permeability of concrete, the use of self-consolodating concrete in highway structures, and the application of corrosion-resistant high-strength MMFX streel for concrete structures, and structural applications of new proprietary materials called Grancrete and Elimix Admixture. This information is adapted from The Paul Zia Distinguished Lecture Series (https://zialecture.com/dr-zia).
A few items are in Chinese, French or German.
For over 50 years, Paul Zia taught, researched, and consulted in many areas of concrete materials, reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, and construction. Zia joined the civil engineering faculty at North Carolina State University in 1961. He advised more than 60 masters and doctoral students at North Carolina State University. He conducted sponsored research on many aspects of prestressed and reinforced concrete, including torsion and shear, bond and development length, loss of prestress, applications of high performance and high strength concrete, self-consolidating concrete, jointless bridge deck, and cracking in large prestressed concrete girders. His studies also included fatigue strength of cracked prestressed concrete girders, assessment of high performance concrete bridges, development of non-destructive test method for measuring air permeability of concrete, the use of self-consolidating concrete in highway structures, and the application of corrosion-resistant high-strength MMFX steel for concrete structures, and structural applications of new proprietary materials called Grancrete and Elimix Admixture.
Zia received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from National Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu, Taiwan in 1949 and then went on to obtain his Master of Structural Engineering degree from the University of Washington in 1952. In 1960, Zia earned his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Florida.
Paul Zia has been the recepient of many honors and awards, including election to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering (1983), the North Carolina State University Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award (1978-80), University of Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award (1983), ASEE Lamme Medal (1986), and North Carolina State University Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal of Excellence (1993), the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees. He was awarded the Citizen’s Award for Exceptional Service in recognition of his role as an adviser and consultant for the relocation of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1999 by the National Park Service. In 2004, he was honored by PCI with the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award. He served as the president of the American Concrete Institute from 1989-1990. Zia has also been an honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a Fellow of Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI).
In 2002, the Paul Zia Distinguished Lecture Series was established in his name as a way to showcase outstanding engineers, their projects and to honor Zia by recalling his contributions to the knowledge of concrete, his contributions to increasing the stature of North Carolina State University and the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.
The above information is adapted from The Paul Zia Distinguished Lecture Series (https://zialecture.com/dr-zia).
This collection contains research and project material created by Paul Zia. Included are the materials for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move, work with corrosion resistant alloy steel (MMFX) and reinforced concrete, the planning for the University of Tennessee Arena repair, the Crystal River Nuclear Plant containment investigation, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) reports, conference and workshop proceedings, and instructional materials from Zia's time as a professor at North Carolina State University. Topics covered include Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, reinforced concrete, the Crystal River Nuclear Plant, the University of Tennessee Arena, North Carolina State University faculty, civil engineering, and the North Carolina State University Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. The materials span the time period 1953-2018, with recent articles and displays reflecting on the success of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move.
This collection is arranged into four series: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Move Files, Publications, Project Records, Correspondence and Personal Papers.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Paul Zia Papers, MC 00645, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Gift of Paul Zia, 2018 and 2020 (Accession nos. 2018.0290. 2018.0291, 2018.0306, 2018.0341, 2020.0032)
Processed by: Mollie B. Frazier, October 2019; addition processed and finding aid updated by Shima Hosseininasab, January 2021; Collection guide updated to reflect addition to the collection by Emily Cunningham, 2026 May
The collection is organized into five principal series:
This series contains materials, most of which are from the 1980s and 1990s, relating to the research and planning of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move of 1999.The series includes posters, research and measurements on the lighthouse, a lobby display, materials from Committee on Options for Preserving Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and editorial articles. The most recent articles reflect on the successes of the preservation.
Arranged chronologically.
Includes a letter from Marc Basnight to Chancellor Larry Monteith requesting a committee to update the 1987 feasibility study for moving the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Contains image, PDF, and Word document files.
Digital copy exists. Access will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
Files transferred via Google Drive.
This series, including materials from 1953-2008, contains publications from engineering conferences, the Peter and White Construction Company v. the Southern Equipment Company court case, appraisal reports, Corrosion Resistant Alloy Steel (MMFX) Concrete Innovations Appraisal Service (CIAS) corrosion claim documents, American Concrete Institute (ACI) reports, workshop proceedings and publications from industrial companies.
Arranged chronologically.
German
This series contains materials from 1976-2012. The majority of these materials focus on Zia's own research projects, student research projects that Zia advised, the University of Tennessee arena repair, the People Mover project, the Crystal River Nuclear Plant containment repair project, the Oregon Department of Transportation bridge shear study, and the Mechanical Behavior of High Performance Concretes study.
Arranged chronologically.
This series, which contains materials from 1977-2012, includes correspondence between Zia and his son as well as with colleagues. Also included is correspondence about project funding, calculation questions, travel documents, tai chi illustrations, and scroll paintings gifted to Zia in appreciation.
Arranged chronologically.
Chinese
Two Chinese scrolls in appreciation of Zia's lecture at Chinese Academy of Construction and Beijing Reinforced Concrete Association and one in appreciation from a former student Sha Tsang-Ping, who spent two years at North Carolina State University in the mid-1980s.
7 3.5 inch floppy disks
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111
Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], Paul Zia Papers, MC 00645, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.