BIOGRAPHY

Prof. Ir. Benjamin Lumantarna, M.Eng., Ph.D. is a distinguished figure in Indonesian structural engineering whose academic and professional journey has been deeply intertwined with the development of Civil Engineering at Petra Christian University (PCU). He enrolled at the Civil Engineering program in 1964 and graduated in 1973. As a student, he had demonstrated strong leadership, serving as Chairman of the Civil Engineering Student Senate and actively contributing to student life during the university’s formative years. He continued his education at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, earning his Master of Engineering degree in 1975, and later received his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Toronto, Canada, in 1985.

Prof. Lumantarna’s dedication to Petra began remarkably early when he became a teaching assistant in 1967. Over the decades, his institutional leadership expanded to include roles as Lecturer, Head of the Bureau for Human Resources and Administration, Professor (appointed in 1992), and member of the University Senate .He also contributed extensively to engineering education through the development of teaching materials and textbooks in Engineering Mechanics and Structural Analysis, as well as through his leadership in the journal Civil Engineering Dimension.

His impact extends widely across the professional sector. A practicing structural engineer since 1968, he co-founded Benjamin Gideon & Associates (BGA) alongside Ir. Gideon Hadi Kusuma, M.Eng. in 1990, building a distinguished portfolio in structural and earthquake-resistant design. Within the broader engineering community, he has served as First Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Society of Civil and Structural Engineers (HAKI) and held key leadership roles in regional civil engineering organizations across Asia.

In recognition of his enduring contributions to engineering practice, research, and higher education, Prof. Lumantarna was honored with the prestigious HAKI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, followed by the conferment of Professor Emeritus by Petra Christian University in 2026. Beyond his academic titles and technical achievements, Prof. Lumantarna’s legacy is defined by his core principles: integrity, lifelong learning, dedicated service, and gratitude to God—values that continue to inspire generations of engineers, scholars, and students.

Facts About Benjamin Lumantarna

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Civil Engineering, Class of 1964 — One of the early generations of Civil Engineering students at Petra Christian University.
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Teaching Since 1967 — He began as a teaching assistant while still an undergraduate student and became a full-time lecturer after graduating in 1973.
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A Practicing Engineer Since 1968 — His professional engineering career began even before he completed his undergraduate degree. His experience eventually covered earthquake-resistant structures, buildings, oil and LPG storage facilities, water towers, and jetties.
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M.Eng., Asian Institute of Technology, 1975 — He was among the early Indonesian students at AIT and helped pave the way for later Petra graduates to continue their studies there.
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Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1985 — He earned his doctorate in Structural Engineering and Mechanics.
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Petra's First Professor — He became a Professor in 1991, at approximately 45 years old, becoming the first Professor of Petra Christian University. A contemporary account also identifies him as the first Guru Besar Madya among private universities in Kopertis Region VII.
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Academic Builder — He served as Head of the Structural Engineering Department and held university leadership and Senate positions.
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Educator and Author — He developed teaching materials ranging from Engineering Mechanics to Plate and Shell, authored two books and a book chapter, and produced more than 100 technical publications over his academic career.
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Earthquake Engineering Expert — Earthquake-resistant structural design became one of his principal areas of expertise, combining academic research with real-world structural engineering practice.
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Co-Founder of Benjamin Gideon & Associates (BGA) — Together with Gideon Hadi Kusuma, he established BGA on 21 February 1990, building a professional structural engineering practice alongside his academic career.
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Three Consecutive Terms in HAKI Leadership — He served as First Vice Chairman of HAKI (2011–2014), followed by two terms as Second Vice Chairman (2014–2017 and 2017–2020). His position as Ketua 1 HAKI during the first of these periods is independently documented in a 2012 professional profile.
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Engineering Leadership Across Asia — He represented HAKI on the Executive Committee of the Asian Concrete Federation (ACF) and served as Chair of the Technical Coordinating Committee of the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC). The latter position is documented in ACECC's 2013 officers list.
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HAKI Achievement Award 2024 — His lifetime contribution to Indonesian structural engineering was recognized with the HAKI Achievement Award 2024.
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Giving Back Through Education — Through BGA, he has supported scholarships for Civil Engineering students at Petra Christian University.
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BGA Civil Engineering Student Awards Since 2016 — He initiated a continuing tradition of recognizing outstanding Civil Engineering students, with awards for outstanding first-, second-, and third-year students, as well as the Best Graduate. The BGA student awards continue to be given annually; recent award information confirms recognition based on the highest GPA in each year cohort.
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More Than Half a Century of Contribution — From becoming a teaching assistant in 1967 and entering professional practice in 1968, his contribution to Civil Engineering now spans nearly six decades.
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From Student to Benefactor — Perhaps the most remarkable arc of his journey is that he began as a Petra student from a modest background who needed a scholarship to pursue further education—and later became someone who provides scholarships and awards to the generations that follow him.

BIOGRAPHY

Facts About Benjamin Lumantarna

Gedung Graha Pena (Jawa Pos)

Intiland Tower

Universitas Katolik Atma Jaya

Monumen Mandala

The Empire Palace