pier luigi nervi was an italian engineer and architect, internationally renowned for his technical ingenuity and dramatic sense of design. he studied at the university of bologna and graduated in 1913. nervi taught as a professor of engineering at rome university from 1946 to 1961 and is known worldwide as a structural engineer and architect. he is particularly famous for his innovative use of reinforced concrete, especially with numerous notable thin shell structures worldwide. he is considered one of the most significant engineers and architects of the 20th century.