The Structural Engineer

August 2023
Volume 101 | Issue 8
A sustainable approach
to geotechnics
Designing
for life
Anti-corruption
resources Can adopting regenerative
principles ensure a carbon-
negative, nature-positive future
in which people and living
President’s
systems thrive together?
mid-year report
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Volume 99 | Issue 10
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Volume 99
Bridging the
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Bridging the
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Upfront
5 Editorial
6 News
8 President’s mid-term report
Feature
10 Learning from living systems – regenerative
principles in practice
14 Regenerative design for building engineering: the
role of the structural engineer
10
Climate action
18 Geotechnics and sustainability: a short guide
Professional guidance
24 Are you equipped to deal with corruption in
your work?
27 Understanding carbon factors – new
guides available
Project focus
28 Eden Project Dundee – bringing regenerative
aspirations to life
Opinion
33 Viewpoint: Moving towards co-creating
with communities
36 Verulam
At the back
38
40
Diary dates
Spotlight on Structures
28
Volume 101 │ Issue 8 │August 2023
41 The Drawing Board

JAMES MCKAY, DREAMS OF A LOW CARBON FUTURE
42 Services directory
18
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thestructuralengineer.org | August 2023
Eurocode manuals
(seven-volume package)
Expected to remain current until at least 2026, all 7 IStructE
Eurocode manuals (to Eurocodes 1,2,3,5,6,7 and 8) featuring
second editions of 1 (2021), 5 (2020) and 6 (2018).
Buy now:
istructe.org/resources/manuals/eurocode-7-volume-package
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Editorial Upfront
PRESIDENT
Matt Byatt
CEng, FIStructE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Yasmin Becker
EDITORIAL
HEAD OF PUBLISHING
Lee Baldwin
MANAGING EDITOR
Robin Jones
t: +44 (0) 20 7201 9822
e: robin.jones@istructe.org
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Will Brown
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e: tse@istructe.org Robin Jones Managing Editor
Adopting a
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DESIGN
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Will Arnold FIStructE
Premma Makanji MIStructE
Allan Mann FIStructE
Chris O’Regan FIStructE
Angus Palmer MIStructE IF YOUR FIRM HAS SIGNED UP TO the concept of regenerative design in more depth.
Simon Pitchers FIStructE
Eleana Savvidi MIStructE
the Structural Engineers’ Declaration (www. We then move to a case study of a project that
structuralengineersdeclare.com), you are already has been applying regenerative thinking from the
Subscription prices
Institutional (online only): £499 committed to applying regenerative principles in early stages: the Eden Project Dundee (page 28).
Institutional (print + online): £529
Personal (print only): £125
your work. But what does ‘regenerative design’ At planning stage, workshops and design have
Personal (online only): £115 mean in practice? As Oliver Broadbent and James been undertaken in a regenerative manner, with the
Personal (Student Member): £50
Norman note (page 10), the term has been in common goal of benefiting communities and nature:
Single issues – digital: £15.00
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use by structural engineers since around 2019, minimising whole-life carbon, maximising biodiversity
but without a clear consensus on exactly what it and developing social value, with a focus on material
Printed by
Warners Midlands plc
means. This issue aims to provide some clarity and efficiency, reuse and local sourcing.
The Maltings, Manor Lane Bourne, guide members on how to adopt this approach Finally, Emma Crichton looks in more detail at
Lincolnshire PE10 9PH
United Kingdom into their design thinking. the need to co-create with communities, to enable
© The Institution of Structural Engineers. We begin with two society to thrive in balance
The Structural Engineer is published by IStructE
Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Institution
articles that seek to both with natural systems
of Structural Engineers. define what a regenerative (page 33). Emma draws
ISSN 1446-5123 (Print) design process or mindset on her experience in the
WE MUST LEARN
ISSN 2753-4421 (Online) entails, and show how humanitarian sector and
Contributions published in The Structural this can be applied to the the idea of place-based
Engineer are published on the understanding
that the author/s is/are solely responsible for the built environment. First, FROM NATURE design to argue that a
Oliver and James explain
TO CREATE A regenerative approach must
statements made, for the opinions expressed
and/or for the accuracy of the contents.
that regenerative design give communities agency
HEALTHIER WORLD
Publication does not imply that any statement or
opinion expressed by the author/s reflects the
views of the Institution of Structural Engineers’ has a goal of enabling all over projects that affect
Board; Council; committees; members
or employees. No liability is accepted by such
living systems (including their lives.
persons or by the Institution for any loss or humans) to ‘survive, thrive Elsewhere in the issue,
damage, whether caused through reliance on
any statement, opinion or omission (textual and co-evolve’ – we must learn from nature to Andy Smith provides a high-level introduction to
or otherwise) in The Structural Engineer, or
otherwise.
create a healthier world. They propose five things sustainability in geotechnical works and foundation
that structural engineers can do to change the design (page 18); Catherine and Neill Stansbury
The Institution of Structural Engineers
International HQ way they design in a transition to a regenerative of the Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption
47–58 Bastwick Street
London EC1V 3PS
way of working. Centre discuss the problem of corruption in the
United Kingdom Next, Will Arnold and Phil Isaac attempt to infrastructure sector and introduce the resources
t: +44 (0)20 7235 4535
e: mail@istructe.org take this a step further by considering ways in that their organisation offers (page 24); and Jo
The Institution of Structural Engineers
which structural engineers can apply some of Spencer summarises a new set of carbon factor
Incorporated by Royal Charter these principles in their projects today (page 14). guides that Arup has made available via the
Charity Registered in England and Wales number
233392 and in Scotland number SC038263 Will and Phil focus on four areas: designing for IStructE website (page 27). And, alongside our
place, circularity and reuse, material choices, and usual features at the back, we present a sketch
knowledge transfer. from Andrew Barr in the latest round of The
Oliver and James are also currently working Drawing Board (page 41).
on a book for the Institution that will examine As ever, I hope you enjoy the issue!
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5
Upfront News
Member news
Institution member achieves success in
RAEng Engineers Trust awards
Dr Fiona Walport is among efficient advanced structural
five engineers who have design framework that capitalises
won the Royal Academy on the increasing availability
of Engineering/Engineers of computing power and
Trust Young Engineer of the emerging digital technologies.
Year competition in 2023. Fiona By enabling the true behaviour
Member news received the £3000 prize, of structures to be represented
Institution Fellow awarded by the Academy with more accurately, her method
support from the Worshipful allows structural engineers to use
recognised in King’s Company of Engineers, for materials more efficiently.
Birthday Honours making a lasting impact on the Several elements from her
Professor Muhammed Basheer structural engineering industry, research findings have already
FREng, FIStructE, Chair in Structural with her work recognised in been incorporated into the
Engineering at the University of Leeds, international design standards. major European and American
has been made a Commander of Fiona is a Research Fellow at stainless steel design standards
the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Imperial College London. She to facilitate efficient use of the
in the King’s Birthday Honours for is developing an accurate and material, with work ongoing.
services to civil engineering.
Professor Basheer’s career as
Institution news
an educator and researcher in civil
engineering spans more than four Building Safety Act guidance
decades, including a period as Head of As industry in the UK prepares for the a guide specifically for SMEs and sole
the School of Civil Engineering at Leeds. full implementation of the Building Safety traders not working on HRBs. Both can
His research on non-destructive tests Act in October, the Institution has made be found at: www.istructe.org/resources/
and structural health monitoring led to additional guidance available to members building-safety-act/impacts-on-the-role-of-
the establishment of two University of on its website. There is a presentation the-structural-engineer/.
Leeds spin-out companies, Amphora covering the general impacts of the Act Further guidance will be made available
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and on members and activities, and also following issue of secondary legislation.
Sengenia. Amphora NDT products were
used to assess the concrete elements of
the Bird’s Nest Stadium, the centrepiece
of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Industry news
Professor Basheer is also an Understanding UK’s industrial DNA is key to unlocking
Associate Editor of the Institution’s
research journal, Structures.
prosperity and becoming engineering superpower, says RAEng
A new report by the Royal Academy Scotland that are performing above average,
of Engineering and Metro Dynamics, and high-value hidden gems to be found in
Industry news
Engineering Economy & Place, has revealed South Derbyshire, North Warwickshire and
Share your experience that engineering represents 32% of total Ribble Valley.
of FE modelling of national economic output and 26% of jobs Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng,
timber structures nationally, but warns that, without action FRSE, President of the Royal Academy of
A new working group of European to implement a place-based approach to Engineering, said: ‘Engineering is at the
Standardisation Committee CEN/TC engineering policy, the UK risks hindering core of the UK’s industrial DNA – it is no
250/SC 5 Design of timber structures is the growth of its economy. wonder that we have a proud history of
conducting a survey on design guidance Engineering Economy & Place aims innovation. This snapshot of the current
for finite-element (FE) modelling of timber to enhance understanding of the role engineering landscape shows that engineers
structures. The group is looking for of engineering across the UK economy, are drivers of economic opportunity – from
participants with low, intermediate or which impacts multiple sectors, from R&D to delivering products and services
high experience in the design of timber manufacturing, software and R&D to that generate jobs, drive our economy and
structures to participate in the online engineers in non-engineering industries like create value for society. The UK simply
survey, which should take only 5–10 financial services and media. The new data cannot become a science and technology
minutes to complete. is intended as a tool to inform future policy superpower without first becoming an
The survey will inform the working decisions on how to share the benefits of engineering superpower.’
group about current design practices engineering across society and help the
in FE models for structural analysis of UK to achieve its engineering, science and Find out more at
timber structures and identify potential technology ambitions. https://raeng.org.uk/eep.
knowledge gaps and barriers. The The report’s interactive dashboard
results will be used to develop guidelines explores, for the first time, how much, what
on FE modelling for structural timber type, where and in what context engineering
design. The findings will be made is happening and enables places to
publicly available (no personal data will understand the role that engineering could
be shared). play in their local economies. While many of
the strongest local engineering economies
Take the survey at https://form. generating high value can be found in the
jotform.com/223392062220343. South East, there are also several places
across @seismicisolation
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August 2023 | thestructuralengineer.org
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Upfront President’s mid-term report
President’s mid-term report

MATT BYATT
CEng, FIStructE
2023 President of The Institution of Structural Engineers
Institution President, Matt Byatt, reflects on the pleasures of visiting regional groups
around the world and progress in advancing his presidential agenda.
Here we are in the middle of the year with Knowledge-sharing communities their successes and concerns openly,
time having well and truly flown by since I First, from what I have experienced whenever they get the chance to meet up,
stood at the lectern in Bastwick Street on a internationally and across a good spread of particularly during the two-day in-person
cold and wet January evening and delivered UK regional groups, we are all different! Each Council meetings.
my Inaugural Address, titled ‘The nature and region has its own idiosyncrasies. Some are Attendance in some groups has been
nurture of a career in structural engineering’. extremely well attended and vibrant, and disappointingly low, although others have been
During my presentation, I discussed my views some less so. But all have a core formed from very well attended. For all its benefits, the
on the challenges that face us as a profession, structural engineers who volunteer their time to hybrid model for meetings does appear to have
the hurdles we have already navigated, and the share knowledge, via organisation of technical adversely affected in-person attendance. The
work still to do. meetings and exam preparation courses, personal interactions before and after meetings
I challenged us all to consider whether and form community networks of engineers and technical presentations are of real value in
we could do more to support and facilitate spanning the full spectrum of experience and terms of connectivity and networking. It would
site experience for our younger members, age. At the Institution of Structural Engineers, be a shame if this continues to decline.
the importance of both formal and informal we are ‘our members’ and the regional groups
mentoring, and pathways to membership for are the heart of our communities. Spreading the message
engineers and technicians on ‘non-standard’ The differences in what regional groups During my visits to our regional groups, I
routes. I also challenged the Institution to arrange and do is surprising and I would have typically given either a presentation or
reconsider how it communicates its first-class strongly encourage regional chairs to discuss short speech on my core messages for the
portfolio of products and learning opportunities
to academics, employers and individuals.
In the months that followed, I have been
afforded the pleasure of travelling around many
of our regional groups, meeting members and
discussing the issues that face our profession. I
have enjoyed regional group dinners, university
visits, debates, beer tasting, technical
presentations (both delivering and listening),
visiting engineering businesses, as well as site
visits (Figure 1). My travels have taken me to
cities within the UK I had never been to, and
as wide afield as Toronto (Figure 2) and New
Orleans to the west and India to the east.
So, what have I learned, and what progress
have we made?
THE PERSONAL
INTERACTIONS
BEFORE AND AFTER
MEETINGS ARE OF ëFIGURE 1:
Visiting Gosforth
REAL VALUE IN Metro depot
TERMS OF
with Northern
Counties
NETWORKING
Regional Group
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8
President’s mid-term report Upfront
BENJ DAVIES
ëFIGURE 3: Celebrating
achievements across the
Institution membership
year – site experience, mentoring, safety structures are built, fabricated, constructed
and intervention, and inclusive pathways and deconstructed safely and economically.
into and through the profession – or I have There is also genuine passion for helping
IT IS IMPORTANT delivered a technical lecture coving some of early-career engineers with mentoring, and a
FOR ENGINEERS
my work within the brownfield offshore oil-and- couple of regional groups are already planning
gas sector. mentoring sessions where mentors and
TO ACTUALLY SEE I have been invigorated by the wide mentees can meet up and share knowledge,
THE FRUITION OF agreement with my message that it is important
for engineers to actually see the fruition of their
advice and support. It would be great if all
our regional groups could run at least one
THEIR DESIGNS designs, in order to better understand how mentoring session per year!
As an Institution, we have commenced
work, through our committees, Council and
Board, on how we can improve support to
FIGURE 2:
Presenting awards candidates and members traversing the
to students of non-standard routes through professional
Toronto Metropolitan
membership. I look forward to an updated
University at Toronto
– Ontario Regional ‘passport to practice’ document offering clear
Group event routes and guidance.
Humbled by enthusiasm
As I continue to balance the day job of co-
directing my engineering practice, Subteno,
and the Presidency of this great Institution,
I am humbled by the enthusiasm and the
quality of people that I have met so far this
year. I very much look forward to the next
six months.
Handing out certificates and awards at the
annual People and Papers Awards (Figure 3)
and signing so many membership certificates
is a wonderful honour.
Finally, thank you! Thank you to all of our
regional group committee members, Council,
Board, task groups, special interest groups,
committees and panels, and contributors
of papers and presentations. You make this
Institution what it is. Finally, thank you to all of
our staff in Bastwick Street for your hard work
and dedication.
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9
Feature Regenerative principles in practice
Learning from living

systems – regenerative
principles in practice
The concept of regenerative design
OLIVER BROADBENT JAMES NORMAN started to gain popularity with built
MChem, MEng, FRSA MEng, PhD, CEng, MICE, FHEA environment professionals around
1851 Regenerative Design Fellow and Director, Professor of Sustainable Design, University of the time of the publication of the
Constructivist Ltd, Bristol, UK Bristol, UK 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) report1. At
that time, more and more structural
engineers and other designers began
SYNOPSIS realising that aiming to be sustainable
– to meet the needs of today without
In this article, Oliver Broadbent and James Norman explore compromising the needs of tomorrow –
the concept of regenerative design and its goal of ensuring is not enough to tackle the climate and
biodiversity emergency.
that humans and living systems can survive, thrive and co- The goal of regenerative design goes
evolve. The authors explain how structural engineers can further than simply meeting our needs2.
The goal of regenerative design is for
learn from the living world to inform the mindsets that should humans and living systems to survive,
guide their designs. The article considers three characteristics thrive and co-evolve. In other words,
of thriving living systems, and uses these to propose five ways that every time we design a building,
the living world – which includes us –
in which structural engineers can start to change the way they becomes healthier. In short, that our
design to shift the built environment system towards this new work leads to greater thriving, not less.
At the time of writing, 450 firms
regenerative goal. worldwide have signed up to the
Structural Engineers Declare statement
(www.structuralengineersdeclare.com/),
which contains two commitments
to regenerative design. But while
regenerative principles have been
applied in other disciplines, such as
agriculture and medicine, for some time,
their application in the design of the built
environment is relatively new.
It is important to recognise that
while the goal of regenerative design
may sound good in theory, some
readers may feel it has little to do with
their day jobs. Others may support the
goal of regenerative design but not feel
they have the agency to make change in
their projects.
In either case, while it may not be
immediately obvious, regenerative
design is likely to impact all our work in
future. For example, once clients start
to get concerned about biodiversity net-
gain as well as zero-carbon targets, it is
likely they will demand more regenerative
ëFIGURE 1: approaches in their design briefs. And
Process of if you work for a company that has
continuous,
place-based signed the Structural Engineers Declare
design statement, then your organisation has
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10
Regenerative principles in practice Feature
FIGURE 2: The Ark in Hither Green,

London, used Y-branch structural supports
YES MAKE
to create a shelter that could facilitate social

distancing and provide outdoor seating for
patrons of local businesses during Covid-19
already made a board-level commitment need to be organised to design in this richer and richer environments over time,
to adopting regenerative principles. way? And above all, what should be the all within ecosystem limits.
So, how do we turn the idea of mindsets guiding our design work to
regenerative design into reality? The best meet this goal? The capacity to self-organise
guide we can find to being regenerative In this article, we consider three and adapt
is to look at how living systems behave. characteristics of thriving living systems, Living systems self-organise and adapt,
Structural engineers learning from the and use these to propose five ways using simple rules and patterns to
living world is nothing new. Just as in which we can start to change respond to environmental changes.
through biomimicry we seek to learn the way we design to shift our built Coupled with their high degree of
from the incredible structures that living environment system towards this new interconnection, this capacity to adapt
systems build, in regenerative design regenerative goal. enables living systems to become highly
we can learn from how living systems adapted to the specific environmental
operate, creating the conditions for Learning from living systems niche that they inhabit.
thriving within the limits of what the Living systems share in common three
ecosystem can sustain. characteristics that we can learn from. Changing the way we design
Using this living system template, we To create a thriving world for ourselves
can start to think about what buildings High degrees of connectivity and all living things, we argue that
and communities might look like in a Living systems are highly interconnected, we need to use these characteristics
world in which humans and the living enabling feedback from one part of the to guide how we design. So, here are
world are surviving, thriving and co- system to easily be communicated to five things we can do to apply these
evolving, and how we might go about another. These feedback loops, backed ideas in practice.
designing them. And from there, how up by multiple levels of redundancy,
might the industry that we operate in enable living systems to operate Practise continuous,
– from design codes to supply chains – within material and energy limits and place-based design
to respond when a part of the system The living systems we work in are
becomes damaged and needs repair. inherently complex. As such, it is
impossible to fully predict how they will
Use of renewable energy respond to the changes we make when
AIMING TO BE SUSTAINABLE and materials we design something. Recognising
IS NOT ENOUGH TO TACKLE Living systems use renewable sources this complexity is key to understanding
THE CLIMATE AND of energy and materials, with the waste
becoming the input for other processes.
how we need to intervene if we want
to design in a way that truly enhances
BIODIVERSITY EMERGENCY This process is generative, creating the living world. Rather than treating
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11
Feature Regenerative principles in practice
environment that provides renewable our current ways of thinking and help us
resources in abundance. This approach imagine a regenerative future.
is known as symbiosis. | I nterdependence – recognising
THE DESIGN NEEDS TO To create abundance, we must and valuing the deep interconnection
EVOLVE WITH THE NEEDS draw upon a range of strategies.
Some of these lie in the past, such as
between us and the living world
that supports us and that can help
OF THE PLACE, IN rediscovering traditional techniques us thrive.
RESPONSE TO THE for using local materials. Others are | A bundance – seeing the
FEEDBACK THAT ALL THE emerging technologies, such as bio-

based technologies or the reuse of the
potential for renewable sources of
energy, materials, collaboration, trust
ELEMENTS OF THAT PLACE abundant materials that already exist in and care.
ARE PROVIDING the build environment.
A great example of abundance in
| E mergence – understanding that
to co-evolve with the living world, we
action is Yes Make (www.yesmake. must work with it rather than control it.
design as a process with fixed start and co.uk), a London-based organisation
end points that we do in lots of different that specialises in repurposing felled When we start to see the world through
places, we should see it as an ongoing street trees for construction (Figure 2). these lenses, we begin to recognise that
relationship with a specific place. We Instead of seeing the trees as a waste regenerative design is not just something
call this continuous, place-based design stream, it saw an opportunity to create in the future, but something that is already
(Figure 1). abundance. Yes Make works with local happening when you know how to spot
To a certain extent, an engineer on communities to process the timber, it. As the author William Gibson said, ‘the
a framework with a large institution or building material literacy in the process. future is already here. It’s just not evenly
local government is already engaged in It is now using 3D-scanning technology distributed’4.
continuous, place-based design. What to create a digital model of tree crowns,
is necessary for regenerative design is which it can use as connections in Conclusion
that the design needs to evolve with the more complex structures. By combining To conclude, we see the job of the
needs of the place, in response to the cutting-edge technology with a waste regenerative structural engineer as
feedback that all the elements of that stream, Yes Make is creating an holding a vision for what it would mean
place are providing. abundant resource. to build in a way that left the human
A continuous, place-based design and living world healthier. And then
relationship enables the designer Aim to intervene higher in the system collaborating with others to create
to embrace the complexity and If we think of sustainability as being the transition to a regenerative way of
interconnectedness of the living systems largely focused on projects, regenerative working: by changing how we design; by
we work in and see design as an design focuses on the sum total of reconfiguring how we organise ourselves
ongoing, iterative process in that place. our actions across the wider built in industry; and by shifting our mindsets
environment. From rules and regulations so that we can be guided by the better
See the wider interconnection that guide how we design, to the world we want to build.
By tracing the origin of all the materials commercial agreements we enter; from
we use, we can gain a deeper planning guidance to how we educate
understanding of the far-reaching engineers, these higher-level factors all Sign up to the Regenerative
impact of our designs. It’s not enough govern the design decisions we make on Design Lab
to create systems that thrive in one an individual project. Oliver Broadbent is co-leader of the
place while depleting resources from To truly transform the built Constructivist Regenerative Design
another. For instance, adding a green environment industry, we need to Lab. Apply to join the next cohort
roof to a building to support insect intervene at this higher level, seeking to at https://constructivist.co.uk/
habitats is meaningless if the project’s change the way the industry operates. regenerative-design-lab/.
supply chain has destroyed more Structural engineers at all levels are
insect habitats somewhere else in the already taking active steps to create
process. It’s crucial to acknowledge the guidance, educational resources and REFERENCES
interconnectedness of our actions. regulations around decarbonisation, and
Expedition Engineering’s work, we can do the same to work towards
supported by an Institution of Civil our regenerative goal. 1) Intergovernmental Panel on
Engineers R&D grant, to develop a But we can also make a difference at Climate Change (2019) Global
measure of embodied biodiversity the individual project level by identifying Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special
exemplifies this holistic approach. and chipping away at the barriers Report [Online] Available at: www.
This initiative expands our perspective that prevent projects from achieving ipcc.ch/sr15/ (Accessed: July 2023)
beyond the living world we can see, to regenerative potential and translating 2) Constructivist (2023) The Goal of
encompass the places we cannot. approaches from one project to the Regenerative Design [Online] Available
next. By asking critical questions, we at: https://constructivist.co.uk/
Build material abundance can help shift the industry toward a more the-goal-of-regenerative-design/
The construction industry’s supply chain regenerative approach to design. (Accessed: July 2023)
relies heavily on extracted materials. But 3) Hopkins R. (2019) From What Is to
what if our industry shifted from a model Be guided by a regenerative mindset What If, Chelsea, VT: Chelsea Green
of depletion to one of abundance? With The climate crisis is a crisis of the Publishing
the right approach, humans can work imagination3. We see three mindsets that 4) Gibson W. (1999) All Tomorrow’s
with living systems to create a thriving we can adopt to help unlock us from Parties, New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
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12
Circular economy and reuse:
guidance for designers
This publication comprises four parts,
and provides actionable guidance for
incorporating circular principles on
engineering projects; enabling structural
engineers to take the initiative on this
critical transition by leading clients and
project teams through the process.
Available now:
istructe.org/resources/guidance/circular-economy
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Feature Regenerative principles for structural engineers
Regenerative design for

building engineering:
the role of the
structural engineer
Introduction
WILL ARNOLD PHIL ISAAC The regenerative principles outlined
CEng, FIStructE CEng, FIStructE by Oliver Broadbent and James
Head of Climate Action, Institution Director & Co-founder, Simple Works, Norman in this issue (page 10) include
of Structural Engineers, London, UK London, UK
understanding and responding to our
social and ecological impacts across
complete systems (i.e. the entire supply
SYNOPSIS chain), ending our resource depletion
and waste creation by moving to create
The principles of regenerative design take an abundance of useful materials, and
inspiration from the ways that living systems FIGURE 1: At
Ruhehe Primary using our work to influence others
have evolved over time to thrive on our planet, School in Rwanda, the
project brief aimed
and drive our industry to be a positive
contributor to the planet. If we are to
creating net-positive outcomes for people and to maximise local
benefits by using local create wholly positive projects in the
nature. This article will attempt to show how we, labour, developing
local skills and using
future, as described by the authors,
then we will need to see the purpose
as structural engineers, can put some of these local materials (such
as volcanic stone for of construction itself transform to be
regenerative principles into practice today, by feature walls), with
timber scaffolding
regenerative – it just isn’t possible to
design fully regeneratively within the
highlighting examples that demonstrate some subsequently
current system.
repurposed as fencing
of these attributes. and play equipment However, there are many things that
we can do today on projects to lay the
groundwork for a regenerative future.
We know from history that grassroots
change drives what is deemed ‘possible’
and even ‘acceptable’ by those in
control of the wider political and
economic systems. As such, we believe
that it is important that today’s structural
engineers understand what aspects of
regenerative design could be applied
here and now.
For the purposes of this article, we will
focus on four areas:
| d
esigning for place
| c
ircularity and reuse
| m
aterial choices
| k
nowledge transfer.
We will elaborate on each of these

and include some specific examples,
although it should be noted that
currently we lack examples that can be
considered exemplars in all four areas
MASS DESIGN GROUP
at once.
Designing for place

As structural engineers, we are
concerned with the design and
specification of structural materials,
but too often we remain disconnected
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14
Regenerative principles for structural engineers Feature
from the place we are designing in or FIGURE 2: To add 13

the materials we are specifying. We fail storeys to an existing
16-storey building,
to heed Gustav Eiffel’s famous words: HYLO’s engineers
‘The engineer […] should be warned that back-analysed
when [their] machine is put to work, it is existing structure and
redirected load paths
not only a part of a mechanical, but of a
social system.’
In a regenerative context, we need to
understand the wider connection and
impact of our design decisions along
the entire supply chain – the so-called
‘second site’ – understanding the
impact on people and nature of material
extraction, element manufacture,
installation on site, and so on. Positive
impacts could come in the form of
nature restoration, pollution absorption,
and helping to ensure fair wages, a
political voice, and equitable education.
To have a bigger say in ensuring our
designs address the needs of the
communities we serve – whether
it’s those on site or throughout the
supply chain – we must engage such
communities in our processes to create
vested interests in doing good. (For
JAN FRIEDLEIN / AKT II

further discussion of this idea, see the
article by Emma Crichton on page 33.)
Eladio Dieste exemplified structural
innovation and designing for place by
pushing the possibilities of local materials
through careful use of structural form.
Dieste developed his work in Uruguay,
a country with limited material resources.
His strong understanding of what the
local workforce could achieve with local (and found in abundance lying by the Atelier One used arches and anticlastic
materials led him to embrace double roadside), was used as a structural gridshells to enable the use of locally
curvature on his projects to unlock material to form the school’s main sourced bamboo as the primary
the use of reinforced and prestressed feature walls. structural material of the gymnasium’s
local brickwork to achieve what others In the 1980s, Walter Segal developed roof, along with local labour for the
thought only possible with concrete, a method for self-build for the build. The project was joint winner
but at a lower cost. This resulted in construction of two housing estates of the Supreme Award for Structural
Dieste being hired to apply his inspiring in London (Walter’s Way and Segal Engineering Excellence in 20222.
structural forms to warehouses, bus Close). The design responded to the
shelters and petrol stations – buildings needs of this place by minimising the Circularity and reuse
rarely associated with eye-catching form! use of wet trades (to aid the use of Retrofit projects, and those using
At the Ruhehe Primary School in unskilled labour, and facilitate future reclaimed materials, avoid the
northern Rwanda (Figure 1), MASS upgrades) and was based entirely associated generation of waste,
Design Group stretched the project around locally available standard timber resource depletion, and emissions.
brief to maximise local benefits sizes to reduce waste. A decade later, While this may sound like the ‘less
throughout the design and construction the principles were replicated for the harm’ associated with sustainability (as
process. The design was undertaken Nubia Way development, London’s first opposed to the ‘more good’ associated
in collaboration with the African Design black self-build housing co-operative with regenerative design), there is clearly
Centre, training 10 fellows in architecture in Lewisham, Southeast London. The potential for reuse to result in zero harm,
and engineering in a country lacking in project responded directly to the needs a strong foundation to enable other
design professionals. The construction of the local community by being set aspects of a project to lead to net-
process was designed to maximise local up in a way that allowed working-class positive outcomes.
labour and advance local construction tenants to buy a stake in their housing To achieve this, we must push
skills, providing training in carpentry and using labour in place of cash. Many of beyond partial reuse and close the loop
masonry to 30 women, in an industry those who joined and built their own entirely. Currently, only a fraction of our
dominated by men. Safety standards timber houses in this project ended profession are designing structures
(such as the use of scaffolding) were up getting new qualifications or jobs for genuine disassembly, and even
increased and embraced as MASS in construction1. fewer of us are designing for future
took time to work with the locals to help A grander-scale example of disassembly while using reclaimed
them understand the benefits. Local designing in response to place is the structural elements today, something
volcanic stone, previously seen as waste Arc Gymnasium in Indonesia. Here, which needs to rapidly change.
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15
Feature Regenerative principles for structural engineers
The refurbishment of existing Forest, following discussion between
NICK CAVILLE / BDP

buildings is nothing new, with many engineers BDP and the local industry,
eye-catching examples around the which was previously using the wood
world, such as the Argo Factory for fencing6. The YesMake example
in Iran, the Zeitz Museum of given by Broadbent and Norman uses
Contemporary Art Africa in South trees that needed to be felled for other
Africa, and the TWA Hotel at JFK reasons (such as damage or disease) –
Airport in New York. The HYLO making use of this wood structurally is
building in London joined the Arc a positive move when compared with
Gymnasium in sharing the 2022 the alternative scenarios of burning it or
Supreme Award2, for adding 13 turning it into cardboard.
storeys to an existing 16-storey Combining biogenic materials with
building (Figure 2). This was enabled modern construction technologies
by structural engineers at AKT II presents further opportunities still. UK
back-analysing the existing structure pioneers ModCell created a panelised
and redirecting load paths to exploit system made up of a timber frame and
existing spare structural capacity. One straw bales, offering the benefits of
wonders already what the next life of modular construction, local sourcing and
HYLO will be. bio-based materials in one go. There
There are also a growing number are more than 30 examples of built
of engineers and designers using structures, from houses to warehouses
reclaimed elements in the place of (www.modcell.com/projects/), and the
new materials. The Kristian Augusts ModCell system was used in a new-
Gate 13 project in Norway3 claims build facility, The Nucleus at Hayesfield
to be made from 80% reused Girls’ School (Figure 4), featured in The
components, including concrete Structural Engineer in October 20147. A
floor plates, gathered from 25 similar cassette-based system has since
different demolition sites. Pad been developed by Natural Building
foundations at Cuerden Valley Visitor FIGURE 3: UEA Material choices Systems (https://naturalbuildingsystems.
Centre in the UK are made from old Enterprise Centre To ensure net-positive impacts along our com/), using hemp-composite within
utilised locally
tyres filled with compacted gravel, sourced timber materials’ journeys from source to site, a plywood and oriented strand board
and reclaimed steel elements have we need to work more closely with our cassette for both walls and floors.
been used on a variety of projects supply chains. Biogenic materials (e.g.
such as the ARTIS Groote Museum timber, hemp, straw) sequester carbon Knowledge transfer
in Amsterdam, the Olympic Stadium from the atmosphere and could feasibly A regenerative system should continue
in London, and several office projects be manufactured into structural materials to thrive once the initial team has
featured in the March 2023 issue of without emitting any greenhouse gases moved on. Knowledge transfer can
The Structural Engineer4. at all. They could also lead to broader play a big part in enabling this, often
A number of tools have recently net-positive outcomes if planted with this overlapping with the principles described
been developed to support the in mind – increasing local biodiversity, earlier under Designing for place. The
industry’s transition to circularity, providing local resilience against flooding engineer should ask how their structure,
such as the ASBP Steel Reuse Toolkit and landslides, or enhancing soil construction methods and materials
developed as part of the DISRUPT nutrients as cover crops. can empower those connected with
project (https://asbp.org.uk/toolkit/ Designing with reclaimed materials the project, from the design team to
disrupt-steel-reuse), the Regenerate (e.g. deconstructed steel frames or the local community. This includes
tool by Sheffield University (https:// secondary cross-laminated timber) along sharing knowledge with the global
urbanflows.ac.uk/regenerate/), and with abundant unprocessed materials profession around how they designed
the Arup Circular Building Toolkit (e.g. earth, stone) can also help avoid regeneratively, and what lessons they
(https://ce-toolkit.dhub.arup.com). the emissions and pollution we associate learned along the way.
The institution’s new guide Circular with construction, and draw down on Finding time to run project debriefs,
economy and reuse: guidance for the levels of waste our industry (sadly) write up our work, and coach others
designers5 brings practical guidance takes for granted. Perhaps one day our (both in education and the workplace,
on material reuse to the structural concretes and steels will even evolve to including our ‘competitors’*) should be
engineering community. present similar benefits. treated as an investment in our future.
Identifying what is of most benefit This all seeks to change the system
means asking what is abundantly and context that we work in, enabling
available – this could be an underused the global construction industry to
low-strength timber, waste rubble from accelerate towards a regenerative future
IT’S WORTH CONSIDERING nearby projects, or earth that has to be more quickly.
NOT JUST WHAT IS excavated to enable site access. As a Many of the projects discussed in
WITHIN YOUR ZONE OF

starting point for new projects, we’d this article ensure a more regenerative
challenge engineers to ‘think local’ and future by passing on skills and
CONTROL, BUT WHAT work out from there. knowledge to others. The IStructE’s
YOU COULD INFLUENCE The University of East Anglia
Enterprise Centre (Figure 3) uses locally
*Treating the broader industry as competitors is clearly
MORE BROADLY sourced timber taken from Thetford

a barrier when we know that knowledge-sharing fosters
innovation and progress.
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16
Regenerative principles for structural engineers Feature
recent activities on climate change are worth considering not just what is within show them how this could be achieved.
a similar cross-industry example, as is your zone of control (e.g. specification Today’s ‘less harm’ mentality is struggling
the CROSS (Collaborative Reporting of materials for the primary structure or to even tackle the single problem of
for Safer Structures; www.cross-safety. options for the foundations), but what carbon emissions, and yet we know that
org) scheme and the way safety has you could influence more broadly (e.g. this is intertwined with issues around
improved as a result. The speed of the client’s regenerative aspirations). biodiversity, social equity and safety. By
change seen in the profession has only For a project to be regenerative, this being ambitious, fostering long-term
been possible because companies and needs to be a fundamental aspiration relationships and sharing knowledge, we
individuals have been willing to share from the beginning. Our greatest hope that we can show a glimpse of the
their knowledge so freely. opportunity to positively influence comes future in each of today’s projects, and
On many projects, major international right at the start, so this could mean bring others along on this journey to help
consultancies are hired to work only working with clients who share your us to take bigger steps on the next.
alongside (typically smaller) in-country regenerative aspirations and refusing
firms, facilitating a two-way transfer of projects that don’t. Otherwise, it could
knowledge and experience. Following mean initiating a conversation with REFERENCES
the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in the wider design team at the project’s
Bangladesh, engineers at Arup designed inception, so you start on the right
1) Ponsford M. (2019) ‘We had to
a methodology for carrying out structural track. Long-term, the best opportunities
fight the NF’: but can London’s first
safety assessments on garment factories come from relationships built on mutual black housing co-op survive latest
across the country, and worked directly understanding and shared values, so threat? [Online] Available at: www.
with local engineers to enable the finding clients aligned with these values theguardian.com/cities/2019/sep/09/
inspection of more than 3700 factories8. is likely to pay dividends. we-had-to-fight-the-nf-but-can-
This kept a critical industry moving (the Changing mindsets and working londons-first-black-housing-co-
Bangladeshi garment industry employs practices means embedding a culture of op-survive-latest-threat (Accessed:
more than four million people, including a regenerative thinking within practices. To July 2023)
significant number of women), but more enable this, opportunities for everyone 2) Institution of Structural Engineers
importantly, it also upskilled an industry to input ideas and share knowledge (2022) ‘Structural Awards 2022:
in safe structural design. should be created. Ensuring that junior Awards special’, The Structural
Similarly, La Référence school in Haiti, and senior staff all have an equal say, Engineer, 100 (11), pp. 27–54; https://
by Eckersley O’Callaghan, prioritised running external workshops with local doi.org/10.56330/JCTO9260
collaboration and learning with local communities, and cross-industry 3) Mad arkitekter, FutureBuilt,
engineering and construction teams9. knowledge-sharing mid-project all help Entra ASA (s.d.) Reuse and
All documentation and processes were others to understand how to move transformation. Findings report: KA13
designed to develop local understanding towards more regenerative principles - Kristian Augusts gate 13 [Online]
Available at: https://files.mad.
of structural behaviour and became and foster a culture of sharing.
no/s/9GpiRzXcs3s9GFi (Accessed:
educational tools for future replication.
July 2023)
Summary
Influence of the If funders, developers and policy-makers FIGURE 4: Nucleus
4) The Structural Engineer (2023)
101 (93), pp. 1–52; https://doi.
regenerative engineer are going to feel empowered to make building at Hayesfield
Girls’ School utilised org/10.56330/WHBA7859
An issue for some engineers is the belief radical changes to their policies to move
ModCell’s panelised
that many of these things are outside towards a more regenerative future, system of timber frame
5) Gowler P. et al. (2023) Circular
their zone of influence. It’s therefore then it is up to practising designers to and straw bale economy and reuse: guidance for
designers, London: IStructE Ltd
6) McNamara M. (2021) ‘Nature’s
invention: The Enterprise Centre,
University of East Anglia’, The
Structural Engineer, 99 (5), pp. 32–36;
https://doi.org/10.56330/XUDD2184
7) Pelly R. and Mander T. (2023) ‘The
Nucleus at Hayesfield Girls’ School,
Bath: achieving low embodied
carbon using renewable material’,
The Structural Engineer, 92 (10),
pp. 12–18
8) Arup (2023) Development of a
methodology for assessing the
structural safety of textile factory
CRAIG AUCKLAND / FOTOHAUS
buildings in Bangladesh [Online]

Available at: www.arup.com/projects/
structural-safety-assessments-
of-textile-factory-buildings-in-
bangladesh (Accessed: July 2023)
9) Institution of Structural Engineers
MODCELL
(2019) ‘Structural Awards 2019:

Award for Sustainability’, The
Structural Engineer, p. 48; https://doi.
org/10.56330/HPQA8185
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17
Climate action Geotechnics and sustainability
2. Low carbon
Geotechnics and
sustainability: a short guide
Andy Smith presents some project-related objectives that geotechnical and structural engineers can use
to improve the sustainability of a project’s foundations.
Introduction construction sector. Given many geotechnical improve the sustainability of a project. These
The construction sector has a key role to play processes such as earthworks and ground objectives follow key elements of the IStructE’s
in achieving the UK government’s target of improvement are highly energy- and resource- low-carbon design hierarchy: ‘build nothing,
reaching net zero in greenhouse emissions intensive, geotechnical works can play an build less, build clever, build efficiently and
by 2050, with construction and the built important role in increasing the sustainability minimise waste’9.
environment accounting for 40% of global of building construction practices and moving It should be noted that, as sustainable
greenhouse gas emissions1. towards net zero, in close partnership with geotechnics encompasses a wide range of
Foundations represent a proportion of these structural and civil engineering methods. topics, this article cannot cover all the areas
emissions, with the relative amount varying Various papers describing topics and related to geo-sustainability. Some of the
depending on the ground conditions, the project objectives where geotechnical engineering can important topics not covered in detail include
and the foundation requirements. Construction contribute to improving the sustainability of a sustainable site characterisation, geohazard
clients, designers, geotechnical companies, and project are summarised in Table 1. mitigation, geothermal energy foundations,
also their supply chains, have a notable part to From this table it is evident that sustainable geo-structures for wind and solar energy,
play in reducing global emissions1. geotechnics is an evolving sub-discipline of sustainable use of underground space,
This situation is recognised and supported geotechnical engineering that covers a wide carbon sequestration, and ethical practices in
by Curtins, which is making important steps to area ranging from improved construction geotechnical engineering. Readers may find
reduce the environmental impact of its business practices and energy geotechnics to retrofitting further information about these subjects in the
and of projects. and reuse of foundations. papers listed in Table 1.
Assessment of the lifecycle of carbon This article aims to provide some project-
is becoming an increasingly important related objectives that can be used by both Objectives
environmental systems analysis tool in the geotechnical and structural engineers to The objective of this article is to provide
information on areas to improve the
sustainability of a project from a geotechnical
perspective, including:
1) increased scope of site investigation and
improved project planning
2) optimised foundation design (ground
improvement, reuse of foundations)
3) improved accuracy in setting out
4) reappraisal of foundation design with
further testing
Box 1. Vastint MU3a –

Phase 1 (Vastint)
| C
urtins undertook pile calculations
to demonstrate that piles would be
acceptable at half the lengths proposed
by the piling contractor, based on results
of further ground investigation and
geotechnical analysis.
| W
e worked closely with the piling
contractor who agreed that the proposal
was acceptable.
| T
he proposal saved the client significant
costs as well as being more sustainable.
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18
Geotechnics and sustainability Climate action
5) use of materials with a reduced Use of better accuracy in setting out the
embodied energy construction (site presence)
6) reuse of soils on site. Having assistance and a site presence from
A COMPREHENSIVE the appointed structural or geotechnical
These elements are often interchangeable,
but are discussed individually in this article for
INVESTIGATION CAN engineer in setting out can help minimise errors
by the groundworks contractor in sizing and/
ease of reference. LEAD TO A MORE or forming foundations. This can help reduce
EFFICIENT AND waste (and therefore carbon) on the project.
Increased scope of site investigation and
better project planning SUSTAINABLE For example lightweight building systems,
such as structural insulated panels, could
Geotechnical engineers have long bemoaned DESIGN potentially be founded on much narrower
the lack of appropriate fees and time for trench fill foundations, given accurate setting
comprehensive site investigations, with out of the excavations.
the consequences of a quick and basic project. Where structural engineers do not A site-based engineer can also
site investigation ranging from increased have this in-house knowledge, a geotechnical provide immediate support with regards to
cost and delay in construction to possible engineering consultant should be appointed unexpected ground conditions so that designs
structural failures. to manage the process and be the point of can be altered quickly.
A comprehensive investigation can also lead contact.
to a more efficient and sustainable design, as it Reappraisal of foundation design with
may allow less conservative geotechnical design Optimised foundation design further testing
parameters to be used at detailed design stage. Once a detailed site investigation has When geotechnical recommendations have
This will likely also lead to cost savings, resulting been carried out, it may be possible been made on a project through issue of
in an ‘everybody wins’ scenario. to optimise foundations by avoiding a geotechnical interpretative report (GIR)
To reach this positive result, it is crucial overdesign resulting from lack of knowledge and geotechnical design report (GDR), these
that investigations are properly planned in full of the ground conditions or soil properties. details are sometimes not revisited later in the
coordination with the relevant parties (structural An example is presented in Box 1, where the project lifetime.
engineer, architect, client) to ensure they are existing pile design was optimised following This means that geotechnical
specific to project requirements. further site investigation through drilling of recommendations at early RIBA stages are
A Phase One Risk Assessment (desk deeper boreholes and in-depth geotechnical used throughout the lifetime of the project,
study) is essential before any site investigations analysis. including for detailed design. This is overly
are carried out to allow proper understanding A design can also be optimised by using conservative.
of anticipated ground conditions, ground alternative, innovative foundation types, We must refine and evolve geotechnical
risks and geotechnical design requirements. e.g. by ground improvement, which may designs throughout a project using
Initial recommendations for any sustainable allow piles to be removed from the project appropriately applied factors of safety
methods of construction can be included altogether (Figure 1)10. to counteract the ground variability and
where appropriate. Ground improvement solutions generally uncertainty. This may help to reduce
It is important to note that desk studies and provide the most cost-effective and conservatism and therefore increase the
site investigations are usually carried out at early environmentally friendly foundation solution sustainability of the project.
stages of the project, often before contractor when dealing with poor ground. As many of This is likely to require further site
appointment or formal structural design. the techniques contain no cement, concrete investigation and monitoring throughout
Multiple stages of investigation may therefore be or steel, the carbon footprint is much less than the later stages of the project, the
necessary to fill in any gaps and account for any that of comparable piling schemes. results of which can be used to update
changes in design. Reusing existing foundations11 may the foundation design at these later
At Curtins, we have the capacity to do in- also become more a favourable option once design stages. Advice from geotechnical
house site investigations, which are fully planned ground conditions are known so that the load- engineering specialists should also be
in coordination with our civil and structural carrying capacity of the existing foundations sought to determine whether any changes
engineering teams during the lifetime of the can be confirmed. to the original designs are required.
(c) CON-FORM / SOURCE: BRE IP 11/10
ëFIGURE 1: Representation
of system of ground
improvement (right) as
alternative to piles10
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Table 1: Summary of sustainability objectives from selected papers

Long et al. (2009)2 Pantelidou et al. (2012)3
(i) Waste management (i) Energy efficiency and

(ii) Infrastructure development carbon reduction
and rehabilitation (ii) Materials and waste reduction
(iii) Construction efficiency (iii) Maintaining natural water cycle
and innovation and enhancing natural watershed
(iv) National security (iv) Climate change adaptation
(v) Resource discovery and recovery and resilience
(vi) Mitigation of natural hazards v) Effective land use and
(vii) Frontier exploration and management
development (vi) Economic viability and whole-life
Box 2. The Heights Primary cost
School, Reading (vii) Positive contribution to society
| S
pecified use of vibro stone columns
(VSC) for scheme as opposed to deep
piled foundations.
| V
SC designs were reviewed by Curtins
to ensure correct parameters used.
Sustainability objectives
| W
orks were supervised on site to
improve accuracy.
| T
he result was a significant reduction
in embodied carbon.
Use of materials with lower

embodied energy
Consideration of the environmental impact and
appropriate specification of the construction
materials adopted for geotechnical structures
is hugely important in reducing the carbon
footprint of a project.
Alternatives to traditional cement and
concrete include blended cements and
concretes, concretes that store CO2 and
cements made from alternative materials. For
example, ground granulated blast-furnace
slag (GGBS) has been used by major piling
contractors as a cement replacement. Note,
however, that GGBS and other cement
replacements are limited in their usefulness12,13.
With GGBS, the setting time will usually be
extended slightly and it therefore requires
coordination with the contractor.
Ground improvement is another key way
to eliminate or reduce cement usage in
foundation construction. Most consultants
consider ground improvement only applicable
for light structures and maintain that piled
foundations should be used for heavy
structures. However, there are some common
applications where both solutions are
feasible using deep vibro-compaction, vibro- and have a strong preference for a product (Elizabeth line) project was required to have a
replacement (stone columns; Box 2.), wet or that is easy to use in most applications without minimum cement replacement content of 50%.
deep soil mixing, and jet grouting. additional training. Finally, they are subject to If the government could insist that all major
financial, insurance and legal constraints that developers adopt carbon-intensity targets
Barriers to adoption shape how innovative they can be. for their projects, this could trigger profound
One of the key barriers to advances in The solution is likely to be governmental. changes in the market and drive sustainability in
geotechnics (be it use of new materials or ground In its National Infrastructure and Construction the industry.
improvement) is the lack of demand. Clients, Pipeline14, the UK government has set out how The process would likely evolve in this
architects, engineers and contractors are often £650bn of private and public investment will be direction if the Building Regulations incorporated
cautious about using novel building materials, spent over the next 10 years and has already a requirement to limit embodied carbon
perceiving them as too risky, more costly and set ambitious requirements for key infrastructure emissions in construction, as in the Part Z
more difficult to use. They are wary of changes in projects with regards to sustainability. For proposal15. The government’s Construction
a product that has to ensure safety over decades example, the concrete for London’s Crossrail Playbook16 outlines policies around publicly
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Geotechnics and sustainability Climate action
Basu et al.4 and Vaníček et al. Basu et al. (2015)6 Taylor (2020)7 EFFC (2022)8
(2013)5
(i) Use of alternative, environmentally (i) Use of alternative, environmentally (i) Retrofitting and reuse of (i) Reuse of materials, e.g. sheet
friendly materials in geotechnical friendly materials and reuse of foundations and other geotechnical piles, steel piles, demolition
constructions, and reuse of waste waste materials in geotechnical structures rubble, or existing foundations on
materials construction (ii) Improvements to intrusive brownfield sites
(ii) Innovative and energy-efficient (ii) Innovative, environmentally investigations to enable foundation (ii) Reducing overconsumption of
ground improvement techniques friendly and energy-efficient reuse fuel and materials
(iii) Bio-slope engineering geotechnical techniques for (iii) Structural movement and/or load (iii) Connecting to the electric grid if
(iv) Efficient use of geosynthetics site investigation, construction, monitoring to enable foundation possible
(v) Sustainable foundation monitoring, retrofitting, ground reuse (iv) Reducing waste, following the
engineering that includes retrofitting improvement, and deconstruction waste reduction hierarchy
and reuse of foundations, and (iii) Retrofitting and reuse of (v) Targeting efficiency
foundations for energy extraction foundations and other geotechnical improvements when replacing or
(vi) Use of underground space structures upgrading equipment
for beneficial purposes including (iv) Use and reuse of underground (vi) Education and awareness, e.g.
storage of energy space for beneficial purposes like educate site teams about energy
(vii) Mining of shallow and deep pedestrian pathways, public transit, efficiency, designers about whole-
geothermal energy and water distribution system, life carbon and carbon payback
(viii) Preservation of geodiversity and for storage of energy, carbon periods
(ix) Environmental protection dioxide, and waste products (vii) Reducing cement use
including protection of green fields (v) Characterisation, analysis,
(x) Geohazard mitigation design, monitoring, repairing,
(xi) Incorporation of geo-ethics in and retrofitting techniques in
practice geotechnical engineering that
ensure or contribute to reliability
(robustness and resistance) and
resilience
(vi) Geotechnical techniques
involved in the discovery and
recovery of geological resources
like minerals and hydrocarbons, and
in exploitation of renewable energy
sources, such as shallow and
deep geothermal, solar, and wind
energies
(vii) Geotechnical techniques for
pollution control and redevelopment
of brown fields and other marginal
sites
(viii) Mitigation of geohazards (e.g.
landslides, earthquakes, and blasts)
that also include the effects of
global climate change
(ix) Environmental and
socioeconomic impacts from geo-
activities
(x) Practice of geo-ethics and
geodiversity
(xi) Development of sustainability
indicators and assessment tools in
geotechnical engineering
procured construction projects, and includes Reuse of soils on site often be reused both on and off site, taking
the requirement to include whole-life carbon One of the main targets of worldwide into consideration their characteristics and
assessments within procurement processes. environmental policies is to reduce landfilled ensuring that these are compatible with the new
The Greater London Authority also requires waste volumes, and one way to achieve this soil application.
whole-life carbon assessments on referable reduction is by reusing waste materials. Numerous geotechnical and geo-
projects in London17. A variety of waste products can be utilised environmental parameters dictate whether
Geotechnical engineers should be at the in geotechnical constructions5. These products soil can be reused on sites. In some cases,
forefront of these changes. The EFFC/DFI can be categorised into industrial wastes (e.g. geotechnical improvement and/or geo-
Carbon Calculator18 is a useful tool to compare ash and slag), construction and demolition environmental treatments are required along with
different geotechnical concepts, designs and wastes (e.g. used bricks, concrete and asphalt), material management plans.
use of (alternative) materials to determine the mining wastes (mine tailings), and other wastes Curtins has the in-house expertise to support
option with the lowest carbon footprint. It is (e.g. tires, plastics, glass and dredged material). material reuse, as detailed in Box 3 overleaf.
considered to be a useful starting point. In addition, naturally occurring soils can A detailed Phase One Risk Assessment and
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@seismicisolation
21
site investigation, followed by competent cut- related objectives that can be used by
and-fill analysis and an earthworks specification both geotechnical and structural engineers
in accordance with relevant guidance19,20, is to improve the sustainability of a project.
essential to confirm what materials can be These include increasing the scope of the
reused on site and in what context. site investigation, optimised foundation
design, improved accuracy in setting out,
Conclusions reappraisal of foundation design, use of
Geotechnical works can play an important role materials with lower embodied energy and
in moving towards more sustainable building reuse of soils on site.
construction practices, in close partnership with It is considered that these objectives can
structural engineering methods. be achieved through a better understanding
This article provides some project- of sustainable approaches to geotechnical
engineering by both geotechnical and structural
engineers. This learning and development
of engineers will be expedited by new
Box 3. Exchange Square, governmental approaches to tackling whole-life
Birmingham (value: £120M) carbon emissions in building projects, including
the setting of mandatory carbon limits.
| A
n earthworks specification combined
with a materials management plan was
utilised to allow 11 000m3 of materials to Andy Smith
be reused on site. BSc (Hons), FGS, CGeol, MCIWEM, RoGEP
| A
llowed sustainable construction via
management of excavated materials Andy is an Associate at Curtins, who leads the
which would otherwise have been Specialist Geotechnical Department. He has a
destined for landfill. wide range of experience in geotechnical
| R
euse of site-won materials saved the engineering projects related to residential,
client £1.5M. commercial and industrial developments
located across the UK and Ireland.
REFERENCES
1) Gibbons O.P. and Orr J.J. (2022) How to 8) European Federation of Foundation industry-proposed amendment to UK Building
calculate embodied carbon (2nd ed.), London: Contractors (2022) EFFC Sustainability Guides Regulations 2010 [Online] Available at: https://
IStructE Ltd. for Foundation Contractors: Guide No. 1. Carbon part-z.uk/proposal (Accessed: June 2023)
Reduction [Online] Available at: www.effc.
2) Long J.C.S., Amadei B., Bardet J.-P. et al. 16) UK government (2022) The Construction
org/content/uploads/2022/05/EFFC-Carbon-
(2009) Geological and Geotechnical Engineering Playbook, v.1.1 [Online] Available at: https://
Reduction-Guide_FINAL.pdf (Accessed: June
in the New Millennium: Opportunities for Research assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/
2023)
and Technological Innovation, Washington, uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
D.C.: The National Academies Press; https://doi. 9) Orr J.J., Cooke M., Ibell T.J., Smith C. and file/941536/The_Construction_Playbook.pdf
org/10.17226/11558 Watson N. (2021) Design for zero, London: (Accessed: June 2023)
IStructE Ltd
3) Pantelidou H., Nicholson D. and Gaba A. 17) Greater London Authority (2022) Whole-life
(2012) ‘Sustainable geotechnics’, In: Burland 10) Reynolds T. Lowres F. and Butcher T. (2010) carbon assessments guidance [Online] Available
J., Chapman T., Skinner H. and Brown M. BRE Information Paper 11/10: Sustainability in at: www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/
(eds.) ICE manual of geotechnical engineering: foundations: a review, Bracknell: BRE Press implementing-london-plan/london-plan-guidance/
Volume I, London: Institution of Civil Engineers, whole-life-cycle-carbon-assessments-guidance
11) Chapman T., Anderson S. and Windle
pp. 125–136 (Accessed: June 2023)
J. (2007) CIRIA Publication C653: Reuse of
4) Basu D., Misra A., Puppala A.J. and Chittoori foundations, London: CIRIA 18) European Federation of Foundation
C.S. (2013) ‘Sustainability in geotechnical Contractors (2023) EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator,
12) Poole I., Gabbianelli M., Arnold W. and Orr
engineering’, Proc. 18th International Conference v.5 [Online] Available at: www.effc.org/how-
J. (2021) ‘Seeing the bigger picture – industry
on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, we-operate/eco%e2%82%82-foundations/
emissions, your project and the performance gap’,
Paris, 2–6 September, pp. 3171–3174 (Accessed: June 2023)
The Structural Engineer, 99 (10), pp. 8–11; https://
5) Vaníček M., Jirásko D. and Vaníček I. (2013) doi.org/10.56330/YZRQ9810 19) Highways Agency (2016) Manual of Contract
‘Geotechnical engineering and protection of Documents for Highway Works. Volume 1:
13) Kelly F. (2023) ‘A review of GGBS use in the
environment and sustainable development’, Proc. Specification for Highway Works. Series
UK and its role in reducing embodied carbon’, The
18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics 600: Earthworks [Online] Available at: www.
Structural Engineer, 101 (7), pp. 24–27; https://doi.
and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris, 2–6 standardsforhighways.co.uk/search/471049cb-
org/10.56330/RGTA3245
September, pp. 3259–3262 7dd8-452a-81e6-fc8af7d31b91 (Accessed: June
14) Infrastructure and Project Authority (2021) 2023)
6) Basu D., Misra A and Puppala A.J. (2014)
Analysis of the National Infrastructure and
‘Sustainability and geotechnical engineering: 20) British Standards Institution (2018) BS EN
Construction Pipeline 2021 [Online] Available at:
perspectives and review’, Can. Geotech. J., 16907-1:2018 Earthworks. Principles and general
www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-
52 (1), pp. 96–113; https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj- rules, London: BSI
infrastructure-and-construction-pipeline-2021
2013-0120
(Accessed: June 2023)
7) Taylor H. (2020) ‘A short guide to reusing
15) Arnold W., Den Dekker T., Giesekam J.,
foundations’, The Structural Engineer, 98 (11), pp.
Godefroy J. and Sturgis S. (2022) Part Z: An
20–23; https://doi.org/10.56330/GYPR7761
@seismicisolation
@seismicisolation
22
CSI
Annual academics
conference 2023
8 September 2023 Reasons to attend:
10:00 – 16:00 BST • Assess the current industry expectations for
graduates, and how curricula need to adapt to
meet the demand;
This free hybrid conference explores
how educators can play a critical role • Evaluate where your curriculum sits in relation
in preparing graduate engineers for the to JBM requirements for accreditation by the
shifting working landscape in response Engineering Council;
to the climate emergency. • Hear how teaching design for retrofit and reuse
differs from traditional design;
• Understand what sustainability improvement
Book is and why it is helpful to include a more varied
range of design and construction methods in
a place your curriculum;
now: • Learn how to use embodied carbon
calculations to challenge briefs effectively.
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21445_academics_conf_2023_HP_advert.indd 1 14/07/2023 3:32 pm
Professional guidance Dealing with corruption
Are you equipped to

deal with corruption
in your work?
Catherine and Neill Stansbury of the Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption
Centre explore the problem of corruption and introduce the anti-corruption
education resources that the organisation offers.
Introduction Corruption in the UK a strict liability offence unless the

Corruption causes significant damage Many people in the UK incorrectly organisation can prove that it had
and undermines the proper functioning regard corruption as a problem adequate procedures in place to
of society. It can have devastating which is only encountered when prevent the offence.
consequences for individuals and working outside the UK. This is a | U
nder a proposed new UK fraud
organisations affected by or involved dangerously false assumption. While offence, an organisation will be
in it. Corruption is normally concealed, the level of corruption may be higher in liable where a fraud offence is
and in most cases is not uncovered. many other countries than in the UK, committed by an employee or
If it is uncovered, it may not be the UK is not immune. The Grenfell agent, for the organisation’s benefit,
investigated and prosecuted. If we do Tower fire, and the public procurement and the organisation did not
not know the full extent of corruption of PPE during the Covid pandemic, have reasonable fraud prevention
that has occurred, then we cannot have highlighted integrity failures which procedures in place.
quantify the resultant cost. However, are still being investigated. The UK
even though an actual figure will never property market is reputed to provide While prosecutions for corruption in
be known, it is revealing to consider safe haven for funds corruptly acquired the UK are still rare, they are occurring.
how significant the cost of corruption in other countries5. | T
wo directors of potato supplier,
may be if you use assumed figures. PWC’s Global Economic Crime Greenvale, paid bribes worth
| T he United Nations and World Survey 2022 found that, in the UK, £4.9M to a Sainsburys’ purchasing
Economic Forum have estimated the 64% of businesses had experienced manager in order for Greenvale
global cost of corruption at 5% of corruption or other economic crime to win a supply contract with
the world’s gross domestic product within the past 24 months, a substantial Sainsburys at an inflated contract
(GDP)1. Based on the world’s GDP increase compared with 56% in 2020, price worth £40M a year. The bribes
for 2022 of US$101tn, this would and 50% in 2018. This is higher than included cash payments, a trip to
equate to over US$5tn per annum the global rate of 46%, and second only the Monaco Grand Prix, and the
of global stolen funds. (This is more to rates seen in South Africa6. payment of hotel bills. In 2012, all
than the annual GDP of Japan, which The view that the UK is becoming three individuals were convicted of
has the world’s third highest GDP more, not less corrupt, is reflected bribery and sentenced to prison for
after the USA and China2.) in Transparency International’s between two and four years8.
| T ransparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2022, | S
ix managers of Solar Energy
Global Corruption Barometer 2017 which records that the UK has fallen Savings ran a £17M fraudulent
recorded that 25% of persons (when compared with the 2021 scheme to install solar panels which
surveyed worldwide had paid a index) from 11th to 18th in the list defrauded 1500 victims, including
bribe in the previous 12 months of perceived least corrupt countries, vulnerable people. They deceived
to access public services such as with a score dropping from 78/100 to customers by representing to them
health care and education3. 73/100. In 2017, the UK was ranked that, if they bought the panels, they
| In the international construction eighth with a score of 82/1007. would recover their costs through
sector, the Royal Institution of the government’s Feed-In Tariff.
Chartered Surveyors in 2021 Long arm of the law However, this was false, and the
estimated that, without significant However, while corruption appears to victims lost up to £20 000 each. In
interventions, by 2030 up to US$5tn be increasing in the UK, so is the risk 2018, the managers were convicted
could be lost annually to corruption4. of prosecution. for fraud and sentenced to prison
| T
he Bribery Act 2010 enables UK for between three and seven years9.
It is critical, therefore, that effective organisations and nationals to be | T
he owner of ALCA Fasteners
steps are taken to prevent corruption prosecuted in the UK for bribery paid bribes of £293 000 to the
from the outset or, if it occurs, to deal overseas, and makes the failure of purchasing manager of a customer
with it appropriately. an organisation to prevent bribery in Norway in return for the
@seismicisolation
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24
Dealing with corruption Professional guidance
purchasing manager placing £12M | y

ou are under pressure from to two hours to complete. A
worth of contracts with ALCA. The colleagues to participate in a certificate of completion can be
purchasing manager received a corrupt act and it will affect your printed. It provides more detailed
bribe of 2.5% of the amount paid personal relationships if you do explanation of corruption offences,
by his company to ALCA for each not participate and contains 14 ethical dilemmas
order. In 2019, the ALCA owner | y our colleagues may go to jail if which a person could face while
and purchasing manager were you report (this may make you working in the infrastructure sector.
sentenced to two years prison in the reluctant to report) This module is aimed at middle
UK and Norway respectively10. | y ou are threatened with dismissal and senior management.
if you challenge the cartel plans University Anti-Corruption
Dealing with corruption of your employer (if you lose your Course – ‘Preventing
The infrastructure sector is said to be job, you may not be able to pay Corruption on Infrastructure
one of the most corrupt sectors. It your mortgage) Projects’: This course is
provides a multitude of opportunities | t he personal safety of you or your intended to form part of an
for corruption. Persons working in family is at risk unless you participate undergraduate or postgraduate
the sector are at some time in their in or ignore the corruption? degree or professional
professional lives likely to be faced qualification for students who
with dilemmas relating to corruption. It is therefore of vital importance are studying subjects relevant
Example dilemmas are set out below. that, as part of their initial training and to the infrastructure sector (e.g.
| A s a manager of an organisation, ongoing professional development, engineering, architecture, project
what do you do if: persons working in the infrastructure management, quantity surveying).
you are offered a bribe to award sector are taught: The course is designed to provide
a contract | w
hat corruption is students with the knowledge to
your organisation plans to join | h
ow and why corruption occurs on help them avoid, prevent and deal
a cartel infrastructure projects effectively with any corruption
a senior manager instructs you | a
bout the cost of corruption which they may encounter in their
to improperly inflate the price in a | h
ow to avoid and deal later professional lives.
payment claim with corruption. | A
nti-corruption programmes:
you discover that your organisation For governments: GIACC
has undertaken and concealed GIACC resources has written and published, with
defective work The Global Infrastructure Anti- the Commonwealth Secretariat,
a customs official asks for a small Corruption Centre (GIACC) was the ‘Commonwealth Anti-
personal payment to expedite established in 2008 to provide Corruption Benchmarks’.
customs clearance guidance to organisations and The Benchmarks contain
you suspect that a colleague is individuals on how to prevent and good practice anti-corruption
taking bribes from a contractor deal with corruption. These resources measures designed to help
in exchange for providing are available free of charge on governments and public-sector
false approvals? GIACC’s online Resource Centre organisations assess their anti-
(www.giaccentre.org) and include: corruption laws, regulations and
Each of the above questions orruption information: These
| C procedures against international
presents one or more of the following sections contain analysis of what good practice, and implement
basic questions: corruption is, why corruption appropriate improvements.
| D
o you undertake the corrupt act? occurs, how corruption occurs, For organisations: GIACC has
| D
o you try to prevent the corrupt act? why avoid corruption, liability for published extensive guidance to
| D
o you report the corrupt act? corruption, cost of corruption and help organisations implement anti-
hypothetical examples of corruption. corruption measures designed to
In abstract, it is easy to imagine | A
nti-corruption education prevent and deal with corruption.
that you would make the decision and training: These measures are consistent
to do the right thing, i.e. you would Online Anti-Corruption with ISO 37001.
not undertake the corrupt act; you Training – Short Module: This is For projects: GIACC’s Project
would, if possible and safe to do so, designed to give a brief overview Anti-Corruption System (PACS)
try to prevent the corrupt act; and of corruption and the importance is an auditable management
you would, if safe to do so, report the of avoiding any involvement in system designed to assist in
corrupt act to your employer or to the corruption. It takes around 30 the prevention and detection of
authorities. But, in practice, situations minutes to complete. A certificate corruption on major infrastructure
can be more complicated, and your of completion can be printed. projects. It comprises 15 PACS
decision may be affected by the Professional institutions and Standards which impact on all
circumstances. For example, what if: organisations can require their project phases, on all project
| y ou have not received any training members and personnel to take participants, and throughout the
on what is corrupt and so do not the Short Module as part of their project contractual structure.
realise that a particular act is corrupt training requirements. For professional institutions:
| y our company is on the brink of Online Anti-Corruption Training GIACC’s Anti-Corruption
bankruptcy and bearing the cost – Comprehensive Module: This Programme for Professional
of rectifying defective works would provides more detailed training Institutions is designed to assist
be the final blow (this might make it than that provided by the Short a professional institution to play
tempting to conceal the defects) Module. It takes between one a leadership role in the fight
@seismicisolation
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25
Professional guidance Dealing with corruption
against corruption in the countries, REFERENCES

regions and sectors in which it
has interests, and take reasonable
steps to ensure that its members 1) United Nations (2018) Global Cost of Corruption transparency.org.uk/publications/corruption-on-
at Least 5 Per Cent of World Gross Domestic your-doorstep (Accessed: July 2023)
and employees do not participate
Product, Secretary-General Tells Security Council,
in corruption. 6) PWC (2022) Global Economic Crime Survey
Citing World Economic Forum Data [Online]
| G
uidance on dealing with 2022: UK findings [Online] Available at: www.pwc.
Available at: https://press.un.org/en/2018/
corruption: This section of GIACC co.uk/services/forensic-services/insights/global-
sc13493.doc.htm#:~:text=The%20World%20
economic-crime-survey-2022-uk-findings.html
guidance provides practical Economic%20Forum%20estimates,gross%20
(Accessed: July 2023)
advice on what an organisation or domestic%20product%20(GDP) (Accessed:
individual should do if confronted July 2023) 7) Transparency International (2022) Corruption
with corruption. The advice for Perceptions Index 2022 [Online] Available at: www.
2) World Bank (2023) GDP: 1960–2022 [Online]
individuals contains nine different transparency.org/en/cpi/2022 (Accessed: July
Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/
2023)
corrupt scenarios with which an NY.GDP.MKTP.CD (Accessed: July 2023)
individual may be confronted, and 8) BBC (2012) Sainsbury’s potato bribe scam:
3) Transparency International (2017) Global
provides guidance on how to react Three jailed [Online] Available at: www.bbc.co.uk/
Corruption Barometer Series 2017 [Online]
to the situation, and on what actions news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18547086
Available at: www.transparency.org/en/gcb/global/
(Accessed: July 2023)
to take after the event. global-corruption-barometer-2017 (Accessed:
July 2023) 9) Serious Fraud Office (2022) Solar Energy
Catherine Stansbury and Neill Savings Ltd [Online] Available at: www.sfo.gov.uk/
4) Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (2021)
Stansbury are co-founders and cases/solar-energy-savings-ltd/ (Accessed: July
The cost of corruption in construction [Online]
2023)
Directors of the Global Infrastructure Available at: www.rics.org/news-insights/wbef/the-
Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC). cost-of-corruption-in-construction#: 10) Serious Fraud Office (2021) ALCA Fasteners
~:text=%E2%80%9CWithout%20significant%20 Ltd [Online] Available at: www.sfo.gov.uk/cases/
Further information interventions%2C%20by%202030,in%20 alca-fasteners-ltd/ (Accessed: July 2023)
For further information, visit construction%20across%20the%20
world.%E2%80%9D (Accessed: July 2023)
GIACC’s online Resource Centre
(www.giaccentre.org) 5) Transparency International (2015) Corruption
or contact GIACC at on your doorstep: how corrupt capital is used to
https://giaccentre.org/contact/. buy property in the UK [Online] Available at: www.
Car park
design
The Institution’s Design
recommendations for multi-storey
and underground car parks
has set the standard for car
park design since 1976. After
more than 45 years and four
editions, this brand new guidance
builds on that legacy to provide
completely revised and updated
information for anyone involved
in car park design, construction,
maintenance and reuse.
Available now:
istructe.org/resources/guidance/car-park-design
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21446_car_park_design_guide_HP.indd 1 26 17/07/2023 4:31 pm
Materials guides Professional guidance
Understanding carbon
factors – new guides
available
Jo Spencer of Arup introduces
a series of short guides that will
help practitioners understand
the origins of carbon factors for
key materials.
At Arup, the BIPAS (Buildings and

Infrastructure Priority Actions for
Sustainability) team is a multidisciplinary
group of engineers, funded via the firm’s
internal investment programme. We carry
out research and create resources relating to
sustainability, primarily for use within Arup,
but shared externally when appropriate.
Our objective is to address those areas that
engineers engage with on a daily basis, to
enable them to address sustainability in an
informed and effective manner.
These guides are intended to help
practising engineers understand the origins
of carbon factors for three key construction (CLT) and glued laminated timber (glulam). Contributors
materials: steel, timber and concrete. As | A
pproaches to sequestration, and the Jo Spencer, Leonora Pilakoutas, Tim Snelson,
engineers, we need to understand how the effect this has on carbon calculations. Andrew Lawrence, Liu Chang, Beth Lockhart,
carbon factors we use are determined, as Clare Perkins, Orlando Gibbons, Lucy Caine,
well as the global impact of our decisions. Concrete Cameron Creamer, Eiki Homma, James
The documents provide a snapshot of | P
rocurement and sourcing of cement and Thorneycroft, Yolande Alves de Souza,
the industry, highlighting carbon hotspots, options for replacements. Fragkoulis Kanavaris, Magdalena Janota,
as well as the major opportunities for each | F
ormwork assumptions and the impact on Liu Chang, Conor Hayes, George Dalkin,
material that will help us on the path to net carbon rates. Rogier van Reen, Ed Hoare.
zero. The guides will be updated periodically | E
mbodied carbon ranges for cement and
to reflect industry changes. cementitious materials. Acknowledgements
In line with our Construction Declares Thanks to the following internal and
commitments, Arup has published these Route to net zero external industry experts for reviewing the
guides externally via the Institution of The route to net zero is different for each guides to ensure a relevant and holistic
Structural Engineers, to reach a wider material. For example, for concrete there is a suite: Ed Hoare, Stuart Smith, Tim Snelson,
audience, and to promote discussion. heavy reliance on carbon capture becoming Andrew Lawrence, Malcolm Turpin,
mainstream, and severe constraints when it Conor Hayes, Ulrike Elbers, Heleni Pantelidou,
What is covered? comes to making the right choice for cement Carsten Hein, Chris Carroll, Dominic Munro,
Steel replacements. The key for all materials, Orlando Gibbons, Eiki Homma,
| T he differences between production in however, is simply to use less. Grace Di Benedetto (Arup), Will Hawkins
a blast oxygen furnace and an electric (Bath University), Jane Anderson
arc furnace. Get the guides (ConstructionLCA), Galina Churkina
| F abrication processes and considerations. The three current guides can be accessed (Technische Universität Berlin), John Callanan
| Implications of steel reuse and recycling. free of charge at www.istructe.org/resources/ (Kloeckner Metals UK), Ryan Roberts (Holcim),
guidance/arup-material-guides/. Arup will be Melanie Jans-Singh (BEIS), Mike de Silva
Timber producing further guides to add to this suite. (Clancy Group), Apostolos Tsoumelekas
| T
he complexities of sustainable forestry If you have any comments on the guides (SCS Railways), Paul Astle (Ramboll),
and the importance of biodiversity. or would like to make suggestions for future Bahman Ghiassi (Birmingham University),
| E
mbodied carbon associated with revisions, please contact Jo Spencer CEng, Gareth Wake (MPA Ready-Mixed Concrete),
adhesives in both cross-laminated timber MICE (jo.spencer@arup.com). Michal Drewniok (Leeds University).
@seismicisolation
@seismicisolation
27
Project focus Eden Project Dundee
Eden Project Dundee

– bringing regenerative
aspirations to life
How does the adoption of a regenerative design process impact on structural engineering
decisions in practice? Helena Russell speaks to the client and designers of the planned
Eden Project Dundee to find out.
The revelation that the Eden Project is ‘Twenty-two years ago, the Eden you can keep coming back to the wider
piloting the use of regenerative design Project was talking about the planetary benefits for society.’
on one of its new outpost projects is emergency and sustainability, and the
unlikely to stop anyone in their tracks. need to see ourselves as part of nature Connections to the past
This globally recognised educational and feel connected to it,’ she explains. Dundee is one of a number of sites
charity has long been acknowledged for ‘But now sustainability means so many that Eden Project International has
its sustainability credentials, since the different things to people – some use selected to host a ‘New Eden’ –
original vision of its founders transformed the term to refer to being financially schemes described by mothership
an abandoned clay quarry in Cornwall resilient, for others it means going Eden Cornwall as ‘our global response
into a visitor attraction aimed at bringing paper-free; some see it as a core value to the planetary emergency’ and in
humans and nature closer together. for everything their organisation does. locations ranging from Foyle in Northern
Recent moves to export the Eden We need to go beyond sustainability and Ireland to Qingdao in China. Each project
Project philosophy and mission to other talk about regeneration. Sustainability is being developed with teams from
parts of the UK – and beyond – have implies remaining static, whereas we the different areas, responding to local
provided a live project in Scotland on need to be moving forward, regenerating themes and needs.
which the process of regenerative design and repairing things, and making those Here, the local theme will take
is being applied and tested right from regenerative practices sustainable.’ inspiration from the Nine Trades of
the start. Expedition Associate Director Eva Dundee – originally a union of specialist
The aspiration of this ambitious MacNamara agrees, and explains her craftspeople such as shoemakers,
scheme is to see the 5ha site of the understanding of how sustainable weavers, dyers, butchers and so on,
former Dundee Gasworks brought back design and regenerative design differ. but reimagined in a more abstract and
to life in a graphic demonstration of ‘Everyone has accepted the UN’s inclusive way for the present day. The
regeneration – reclaiming contaminated definition that sustainable development modern ‘guilds’ are intended to be a
land in the heart of the city and turning it is “development that meets the needs of conduit through which both visitors and
into a place where nature can thrive and the present without compromising the local communities will find a connection
communities be built (Figure 1). ability of future generations to meet their to the Eden Project’s resources and
Project Engagement Manager own needs”. But when you hear that partners, and be motivated and inspired
Caishlan Sweeney is happy to describe now, it sounds rather selfish; our thinking to act.
Eden Dundee as a demonstration is that the definition of regenerative Architect Feilden Clegg Bradley
project, and is enthusiastic about how development should be “development Studios (FCBS) is leading the design of
the current scheme, which is just about that meets the needs of the present the Eden Dundee site, with structural
to take a step up in visibility by entering while improving the ability of future engineering expertise from Expedition.
the planning process, brings a new generations of all species to meet their The choice of site was made public
relevance to the founders’ mission. own needs and the needs of others, and in May 2021 when a memorandum of
allows all to thrive”. understanding was signed between
‘Suddenly, it’s not just the best Eden and owners National Grid and
outcome for my project, it’s how it SGN, kicking off a study to explore the
influences others, how it makes things feasibility of converting the site. Since
SUSTAINABILITY IMPLIES better and so on, and that’s really that time, the focus has been not just on
REMAINING STATIC, motivating. I would say that 90% of
the industry is talking about carbon;
developing a masterplan for the site, and
exploring options for the main venues,
WHEREAS WE NEED TO BE biodiversity gets a mention sometimes, but also on building partnerships for the
MOVING FORWARD, but there are all these other things – physical delivery of the scheme, and
REGENERATING AND social value, air pollution, populations,
health and wellbeing – that are not
with communities in the city to build a
storytelling and engagement narrative for
REPAIRING THINGS considered. With that regenerative ethos the project.
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Eden Project Dundee Project focus
FIGURE 1: Eden
Dundee aims to reclaim
contaminated land
near city’s docks and
create a place where
nature can thrive and
communities be built
In March 2022, a funding commitment through which coal was tipped from rail
FEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS
of £7.6M from partners Dundee City wagons; another trace of history that will
Council, the Northwood Charitable be woven into one of the planned venues.
Trust and the University of Dundee was
announced to cover the planning and
The tall brick walls remaining around the
site are reminiscent of the walled gardens
WHAT WE WANT TO SHOW
design phases of the project. Eden of country houses; a ready-made point of ON THIS PROJECT IS HOW,
Dundee is expected to bring 500 000
visitors a year to the region, provide
reference for Eden Dundee.
Aside from these physical
AS A STRUCTURAL
£27M to the regional economy and traces, the main legacy of the site ENGINEER, YOU CAN
create 500 jobs. Notwithstanding is contamination from the former INFLUENCE REGENERATIVE
unforeseen circumstances – Sweeney
reels off a list including pandemics, wars,
gasworks; this will be remediated by
the site owners before handover, but
OUTCOMES THAT ARE PART
and changes of first ministers and their its presence and the restrictions this OF THE BIGGER PICTURE
manifestos – the opening is scheduled currently places on access has some
for 2026. implications for venue design.
The site, which sits just east of the As Sweeney explains: ‘The gas holder design process is being applied
city centre and north of the docks, has is an unknown at the moment – we’ve to the project; in many ways,
been empty for more than a decade. been to visit one in Glasgow that’s the the process has the flexibility to
Most of the old infrastructure has long same type of gas holder, just slightly accommodate uncertainty in a way
gone, but sufficient traces remain to smaller. Our team went inside and took that the conventional design process
point to its industrious past, including a photos – all things being equal it should can’t match.
60m diameter gas holder which creates be the same as what we are dealing But it is no coincidence – MacNamara
an imposing landmark on the site and with, but while it remains unknown, it’s participated in the first cohort of the
could easily accommodate some of the a challenge. Until you get inside that Constructivist Regenerative Design Lab
city’s better-known buildings. The plan beastie, I’m not sure you can really in 2022 and had already identified the
is to morph this steel behemoth into the account for everything.’ project as a potential testing ground.
‘Lush Bunker’ – the main visitor venue The Regenerative Design Lab (https://
(Figure 2). At the northern boundary of Regenerative aspirations constructivist.co.uk/regenerative-
the site is a brick terrace with openings So, it’s fortunate that the regenerative design-lab/) is a six-month accelerator
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programme where engineering

professionals learn about regenerative
design principles and support each other
to put them into practice.
‘What we want to show on this project
is how, as a structural engineer, you can
influence regenerative outcomes that
are part of the bigger picture,’ she says.
‘At the Design Lab, we had to pose
ourselves a question; mine was how I
could use bigger projects to seed smaller
projects, and I was thinking about Eden.
It was deeply frustrating as I couldn’t talk
about it at the time!’ she recalls.
Regenerative design goes to the
heart of Eden’s aims and history, agrees
IFEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS

Sweeney, explaining that Eden’s mission
as a global endeavour is to ‘respect the
natural world, protect the wild spaces
that need to be left alone to thrive, and
to repair damaged spaces that need to
be fixed.’
‘Transformation and regeneration
are at the core of it, and this site really
fits in with that, much more so than the
other sites we looked at. We did a lot
of research and scored all the options
against the same criteria so that we
could really be sure that we were saying FIGURE 2: Former industries – wind turbine blades or our ‘We have also pushed really hard,
yes to the right place. The history of gas holder will become disused gas holder, for example. while being mindful of future flexibility,
main visitor venue – the
this site also lends such a lot to the Lush Bunker ‘You have to map the materials that to use smaller spans wherever we can.
stories that we can tell, the journey you have on the site, close to the site, Longer spans tend to be better for
and experience we can take people on in the region and so on. We are talking future flexibility, but we can’t guarantee
across the site. It’s perfect really.’ to city planners about how they might it will need to be reused like that – so
It also has benefits in terms of the site share their knowledge of buildings that smaller spans use less material. It’s
and the way the team approaches it, she are planned to be demolished, and that been a brilliant process because FCBS
adds. ‘We want to be able to challenge we might approach for materials, so we are really reciprocal – building in that
the industry to consider using different can help one site avoid waste, and feed futureproofing for the circular economy is
materials; but one drawback is that it materials back to another.’ really important.’
can make planners nervous.’ But to make this feasible, it is crucial Sayers adds: ‘We are increasingly
FCBS Partner Rachel Sayers points to build in flexibility at the very early learning the flexibility that comes
out that the regenerative aspirations stages of concept design. from that sort of process, which is a
of Eden Dundee extend beyond the MacNamara explains how this healthy thing. We are quite used to
physical environment, making it a truly affects the design process: ‘We do having this agility, as we often work
holistic endeavour. ‘A key point is that it’s need to have details tied down as with contractors who might propose
not just about the building fabric, it’s also soon as possible, but because FCBS an alternative material for reasons of
about social and economic regeneration. are really up for doing this as well, for speed, for example, but now there is a
Having social regeneration, building Stage 2 phasing we are giving three bigger calling behind this process. We
communities and Eden’s very specific different options for what the reclaimed know that long spans can be very useful
ambition to give people wisdom around structure might be, whether it’s steel when thinking about future flexibility of
reconnection to the natural world is a beams, a truss, or reused timber. buildings, but we are finding that a span
huge thing too. We are protecting a sufficiently large of about 6m is often what you get when
‘We are looking very closely at what structural zone so that options can be reusing materials – after they have been
materials we are going to use, both in switched in or out much later without taken off the building and trimmed down.
terms of creating lean buildings, and disrupting progress. Close scrutiny of all decisions against
also taking into account the biodiversity key principles from the very start of
impact of the materials. We need to the scoping process is central to
balance our use of materials as far as regenerative design, says MacNamara,
we can, reusing as much as possible, and Eden’s way of working as a client
and growing as much as possible, while
overlaying the biodiversity agenda. Using
YOU HAVE TO MAP THE was well-suited to this. ‘What was
really interesting was that in the early
virgin wood, for example, is not as good MATERIALS THAT YOU stages, half of those at design team
as using recycled timber components. HAVE ON THE SITE, CLOSE meetings were from the Eden Project;
It is very much more about trying to
tap into available materials, both in
TO THE SITE, IN THE REGION they were the gardeners, the storytellers
and so on, and they spent a long time
the construction industry, and other AND SO ON trying to pinpoint what they wanted to
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Eden Project Dundee Project focus
locally sourced materials, and being a forest compare with a quarry where
regenerative process. Not all of these extraction of materials might be
are directly obvious – e.g. being a counterbalanced by environmental
A SPAN OF ABOUT 6M IS regenerative process might include improvements? We just don’t have
OFTEN WHAT YOU GET sharing knowledge (including mistakes)
with the industry for the greater good,
answers to those kinds of questions,’
she admits. Faced with this fundamental
WHEN REUSING MATERIALS and seeking to establish new methods knowledge gap, she and colleagues at
– AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN – e.g. for procuring materials – where Expedition successfully applied for an
TAKEN OFF THE BUILDING necessary. And not all of them are easily
done, as MacNamara explains.
Institution of Civil Engineers research
and development grant to compile a
AND TRIMMED DOWN ‘Very few people talk about how you framework for measuring the biodiversity
can maximise biodiversity benefits as a impact of different materials.
structural engineer, do they? Structural ‘As an industry, we focused for a
say with the project. What an amazing engineers have very little impact on the long time on operational carbon, before
opportunity for a structural engineer! biodiversity gain of a site. However, we realising that embodied carbon can be
You don’t often witness that birth of a specify huge amounts of materials – and much more significant. In the same way,
project in the same way. We could then while we now know the carbon impact biodiversity net gain is what we would
say, well, you’ve got this narrative, and of such materials, we don’t really know consider as “operational” biodiversity
you are talking about the outcomes the biodiversity impact or how that and the “embodied” biodiversity is what
of the project, but what about the changes depending on which material we don’t really understand.’
construction process? If we really, we specify. Expedition’s spin-off research also
collectively believe in a regenerative ‘For example, how does the neatly demonstrates how regenerative
purpose, this is what it means to us as biodiversity of a monocultural timber design can have benefits for others,
a design team. We’ve challenged that
over and over again.’
High-level principles
Fundamental to a regenerative design HIGH-LEVEL PRINCIPLES INCLUDE MINIMISING
approach from the structural engineering
perspective is application of a set of
WHOLE-LIFE CARBON, MAXIMISING
high-level principles across the whole BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIAL VALUE, MAXIMISING
project. These include minimising whole- OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT NEW MATERIALS,
life carbon, maximising biodiversity and
social value, maximising opportunities USING LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS, AND
to support new materials, using BEING A REGENERATIVE PROCESS
FIGURE 3:
Venue will offer
immersive
experience
telling story of
the carboniferous
forest
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rather than simply serving the needs of

the project itself.
Another of the high-level principles
focuses on maximising opportunities
and support for future materials, says
MacNamara. ‘How do we incubate
technologies that could have a big
impact on the climate crisis while
minimising the risk for projects?’ This
might be done by incorporating an
innovative material or product in a low-
risk environment – e.g. using a carbon-
negative concrete to make a kerbstone.
If it fails, it won’t have any structural
impact, but its long-term behaviour in
real-life conditions can be monitored.
Material choice is another focus,
with designers encouraged to source
the majority of the primary structure
locally and regionally, whether that is

new or reused materials. ‘We will need
to find out if there are any factories in
Scotland producing engineered timber,’
says Eva. ‘If not, we should aim to use
sawn timber rather than glulam – that
kind of issue can have an impact on
regeneration of the local economy.’
A living venue
Although venue designs are still in the
early stages, the team has agreed
on regenerative approaches for each
venue, depending on the narrative of FIGURE 4: Site will of the past site in its industrial heyday. support that breaks down the span.
that venue and its site context. There form ‘living venue’ – ‘It’s a demonstrative reuse of a former ‘As a design team, it’s about
regenerative landscape
will be four main ‘venues’ explains with proposed saddle- industrial building,’ Sayers explains. brokering a deal at the beginning –
Sayers; three buildings and the site shaped roof The inside is split into two with the story making sure your client knows that you
itself as a ‘living’ venue. ‘In a way, the of the carboniferous forest played out will push back and challenge them on
setting of the landscape is “venue in the lower level, and a lush, planted everything. They have welcomed that
zero” – a regenerative landscape that greenhouse demonstrating good design every time, and have also been super
demonstrates principles which are from nature on the top level (Figure 3). clear when it goes too far, or would put
“grown” and incorporates distribution As much steel as possible will be the programme at risk.’
routes for people, services and water,’ cleaned and retained on the project, but Local earth and timber are the
she says. It will be immersive, using to be truly regenerative, this should be proposed materials for the small
fast-growing plants to give height no more than is absolutely necessary, threshold building on the west of the
and including pavilions which may be says MacNamara. ‘There’s a lot of site, which will welcome visitors as they
living buildings, community builds, or steel in it, as it has solid tiers when it is arrive at Eden Dundee and is modelled
structures demonstrating new materials elevated and, in the permanent case, on a market building where ideas and
or technologies. not all the tiers will be required. The objects can be traded and exchanged.
The ‘Lush Bunker’ occupies the gas conventional approach would just be to ‘Its roof form undulates to accommodate
holder in the corner of the site and its deflate it and keep it retracted – we said solar gain and reduce noise from the
scale reflects the power and productivity that we should give the rest back to the road nearby,’ explains Sayers, ‘and
industry as we already recycle 100% we are currently looking at timber
of what’s available. We should aim to modules that we could use. It’s Passiv
use as little material as possible.’ Roof design, with low-energy principles, and
options are still under discussion and there’s a solar greenhouse along the
AS MUCH STEEL AS include a saddle-shaped structure – a southern facade with a flexible market
POSSIBLE WILL BE materially efficient option to provide a
clear 60m span (Figure 4).
hall space inside offering a range of
different ways it can be used by visitors
CLEANED AND RETAINED Pushing back against certain ideas and communities.’
ON THE PROJECT, with well-reasoned arguments has been
welcomed, she adds. ‘One proposal
The final venue is intended to be a
place where the myths and legends of
BUT TO BE TRULY was for a flat roof, tilting up towards the past can be reflected on in a cultural
REGENERATIVE, THIS Dundee, and everyone fell in love with context. It will be a wall-derived building,
SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN it at first,’ she reveals. ‘We are also
exploring a more carbon-efficient version
connected to the terrace at the north
end of the site, and built in recycled
IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY of the tilted roof, by adding in additional stone, timber or steel.
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Co-creating with communities Opinion
Viewpoint
Moving towards
co-creating with
communities
Emma Crichton of Engineers Without Borders UK introduces readers
to the idea of co-creating with communities, explaining why this shift
is an essential component of regenerative design and how it will
affect the role of structural engineers.
Introduction Community 1 minimise waste through reuse, employ

Regenerative design introduces a compelling Govan, an urban community in Glasgow, traditional methods, and be self-sustaining
idea: a better way to design that enables our Scotland was once an undisputed without relying on external systems.
communities and natural systems to thrive powerhouse of the world’s shipbuilding
together. This notion is gaining significance industry. However, after World War II, Community 3
as communities worldwide experience the Govan experienced social and economic Lobitos and Piedritas are neighbouring coastal
impacts of a changing climate, biodiversity deprivation due to the decline of shipbuilding. communities in northern Peru. Formerly,
loss, and social inequality. In 2017, the introduction of the Thriving Lobitos housed BP’s South American
This article will start by exploring three Places programme brought organisations headquarters, supplying petrol to service
communities*, before explaining why co- and community groups together to address stations in Ireland and northwest England.
creating with communities is essential within local priorities, including the roughly 1000 Today, Lobitos is a small fishing and surfing
regenerative design and how the role of people seeking asylum in Govan who town of 1300 residents and preparing for
engineers needs to shift to enable this. receive only £45 per week for all necessities. the El Niño event due in 2023 that is likely to
Regenerative design initiatives planned by cause significant flooding. This event happens
Co-creating with communities the community include the restoration of the more often due to our changing climate. The
Pressure is building for the private sector Govan Graving Docks, which aims to capture local community is working with EcoSwell,
to rapidly adopt responsible practices and carbon, rehabilitate soils, support wildlife and a multidisciplinary group of professionals,
meet sustainability commitments. The promote regenerative farming practices. on reforestation and ecosystem restoration,
impact of human activity is forcing us to renewable energy, water and sanitation, and
urgently challenge unsustainable practices Community 2 public health projects.
and to develop a deeper approach to Pu Ngaol is a rural village in eastern
project scoping with communities. A Cambodia, inhabited primarily by over 500 Why co-creation is essential
core part of regenerative design is about indigenous Bunong people with a history There is a vast difference in these three
co-creating with communities, fostering spanning more than 2000 years. The communities’ needs, aspirations and strengths.
robust and honest relationships to unlock community practises responsible resource The commonality between them is that the
collaboration and bring transformative management and regenerative agriculture. people in each place have deep insights about
outcomes. The people’s subsistence lifestyle relies on the their communities and context that should
Co-creation with communities goes land and utilises only the resources they need inform any projects conducted in their locality.
beyond human-centred design; it is about from nearby forests and fields, recognising One standard design for the built environment
developing societies that thrive in balance how a healthy forest, through preserving local or housing would not work across these
with natural systems. Meaningful community environments and ecosystems, is essential communities; the requirements for the design
engagement in the design process can lead to their cultural survival. The community are context (i.e. community)-specific.
to positive change, as illustrated by the emphasises that local projects should be
following examples. affordable, generate jobs/income, be user- Power dynamics between designers
friendly and repairable, use local materials, and communities
Co-creation or co-design is a move towards
* Community-based organisations in each of these three communities have partnered with Engineers Without Borders UK to run the giving communities the power to shape
Engineering for People Design Challenge (which supports the education of over 12 000 engineering students each year). and inform the designs that will impact
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33
Opinion Co-creating with communities
Where could co-creation work today? a particular patient. Each professional will
In the UK, the Environment Agency’s Coastal have a specific role and area of expertise
Transition Accelerator Programme is a contributing to the procedure’s success.
IF YOU HAVE COME strategic initiative to facilitate the transition How the team chooses to collaborate and
HERE TO HELP ME, and resilience of coastal communities coexist determines the efficacy and overall
YOU ARE WASTING in England likely to be affected by rising

sea levels. The programme is looking at
outcome of the patient.
Similarly, the role of engineers is more
YOUR TIME, BUT IF adaptation not just via technical solutions than just keeping their clients or funders
YOU HAVE COME alone (flood barriers), but by embracing
experimental nature-based solutions that
happy. With critical reflection, it is clear that
we (especially given our societal challenges
BECAUSE YOUR support local fishing communities, or through and the planet’s health issues) must deeply
LIBERATION IS more socio-technical solutions where consider the impact of our choices and
BOUND UP WITH communities could relocate or accept some

level of land flooding. It may be messier
develop strong relationships within the
many communities we touch. Just like in
MINE, THEN LET US to work with the community to reach joint medicine, it’s about fostering relationships
WORK TOGETHER decisions, but it is much more effective.
There are various ways to co-create
between those with firsthand experience and
engineers who can drive practical solutions.
Lilla Watson, a Murri (indigenous Australian) visual artist, with communities (including ‘participatory’ The quality of these relationships determines
activist, and educator design, ‘inclusive’ design and ‘co-design’1) the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall
– all fundamentally seek to increase the success of our projects.
their lives. Co-creation is a move away participation of people in design decisions
from the most common understanding made (Figure 1). Changing our practices to
of power (power over others), which is enable better outcomes for
associated with domination and controlling What does a shift towards communities
(or forcing) the outcome and is degenerative. co-creation mean for the role All professionals must shift practices
Addressing power dynamics is part of of engineers? designed for the industrial revolution
regenerative design processes to ensure We all need to increasingly challenge towards globally responsible approaches.
local communities are engaged and have the the power held by individuals, including Improving engineering practices is crucial to
agency to make decisions. engineers, if we are to improve the crucial support communities’ effective adaptation
To enable co-creation, engineers must let decisions that impact (directly or indirectly) and response.
go of the need to be the sole experts and others’ lives and livelihoods.
fixers. Deep collaboration with communities Let’s step back and consider the role Bring in the expertise and capability to
is essential for long-term success. of medical professionals. Their role is co-create
more than to complete tasks and keep How do you engage a community of 10 000?
Where was co-creation needed? their managers happy. People expect
A go-to example from the aid sector medical professionals to deeply consider Hint: Asking people to respond to a survey
is the PlayPump. During the 2000s, the impact of their choices and develop on LinkedIn is not community engagement.
PlayPumps International introduced over strong relationships with patients. In
1400 PlayPump systems to solve water complex medical cases, multidisciplinary True community engagement requires giving
scarcity in rural African communities. The teams jointly assess the best approach for communities agency in design decisions.
system comprised a children’s merry-go- IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation
round that pumped water while they played.
However, ethical concerns arose due to high IAP2’s Spectrum of Public Participation was designed to assist with the selection of the level of participation that defines the
FIGURE 1: IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation
public’s role in any public participation process. The Spectrum is used internationally, and it is found in public participation
© INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (www.iap2.org)

community costs, maintenance issues and plans around the world.
the potential exploitation of children being
made to play (work) whenever water was
needed, thus disrupting their education.
These issues sparked learning about the INFORM CONSULT INVOLVE COLLABORATE EMPOWER
appropriateness of technology, context-
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL
To provide the public To obtain public To work directly with To partner with the To place final decision
appropriate understanding, limitations with balanced and feedback on analysis, the public throughout public in each aspect making in the hands of
of short-term thinking, and the need for objective information alternatives and/or the process to ensure of the decision the public.
community-driven solutions. to assist them in
understanding the
decisions. that public concerns
and aspirations are
including the
development of
PlayPumps reflected the power dynamics problem, alternatives, consistently alternatives and the
at play in the broader system. Even when opportunities and/or understood and identification of the
solutions. considered. preferred solution.
issues arose, funding continued to pour
into the organisation, highlighting why it
is so essential to prioritise the voices of We will keep you We will keep you We will work with you We will look to you for We will implement
the communities directly impacted over
PROMISE TO THE PUBLIC
informed. informed, listen to and to ensure that your advice and innovation what you decide.
acknowledge concerns concerns and in formulating
those of distant and ill-informed donors. and aspirations, and aspirations are solutions and
The PlayPump isn’t an isolated example, provide feedback on directly reflected in incorporate your
how public input the alternatives advice and
and remedial measures were taken. Much influenced the developed and provide recommendations into
learning in the aid sector is related to decision. feedback on how the decisions to the
public input influenced maximum extent
improving the flow of power, from donor- the decision. possible.
driven to driven by the community or by
people with relevant lived experience. © IAP2 International Federation 2018. All rights reserved. 20181112_v1
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34
Co-creating with communities Opinion
Professionals skilled in facilitation and FIGURE 2: Global Responsibility Competency Compass

meaningful interactions can effectively
incorporate community input, fostering trust
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS UK

and collaboration. Facilitation is a skill and not
something everyone can do, and this is where
professionals from social science or other
disciplines could provide support if valued as a
core part of the design team.
Develop yourself and the impact you have

For systemic positive change to occur, all
professionals need support to understand,
think and feel differently about the social and
environmental challenges we face, so that
they can take action more effectively.
Step 1: Develop yourself

Step 1 is to develop yourself. Tools that you
can use today include:
| Engineers Without Borders UK’s Global
Responsibility Competency Compass
(Figure 2; www.ewb-uk.org/)
| Inner Development Goals
(www.innerdevelopmentgoals.org/).
The Global Responsibility Competency

Compass points engineering practitioners
to the capabilities needed to stay relevant
and provides practical ways for them to
develop themselves. The Inner Development
Goals initiative promotes skills and qualities
for sustainable living and supports the UN
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Step 2: Connect to communities the design code community portal Conclusion

Step 2 is to see your role on projects as (https://sowodesigncode.org/) for South Co-creating with communities is not an option
connected both directly to communities and Woodford in London (a design code is a but a necessity in the pursuit of regenerative
indirectly too. set of principles the community creates design. It requires a shift in power dynamics,
to inform future development. It sets where communities have agency and influence
Example parameters for developing individual sites over the projects that impact their lives.
Suppose you are a structural engineer in the or rules across a wider area) Engineers play a crucial role in enabling co-
UK working on large buildings. We know the | advocating for adopting Part Z of creation by developing strong relationships,
design of buildings can significantly impact the UK Building Regulations or using challenging existing practices, and embracing
the environment, with embodied carbon PAS 2080 within projects and processes multidisciplinary collaboration. By doing so,
emissions contributing to climate | enabling project-specific data to be we can foster transformative outcomes that
change, rising sea levels and ecosystem visible externally and focusing intensely address the needs of communities and support
disruption. Concerns about skyscrapers on making choices that reduce whole-life the thriving of both people and natural systems.
are compounded by their tendency to serve carbon emissions of large structures.
the interests of the affluent, highlighting
the need for inclusive and equitable urban Or it may be to advocate for the shift by: Emma Crichton
development. | amplifying projects led by communities CEng, MICE
Embodied emissions of large-scale and supported by engineers – e.g. by
commercial buildings can be tens of submitting an entry to the IStructE’s Emma is a chartered civil engineer with a
thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide Structural Awards scheme or offering a decade of experience within the water
equivalent (CO2e). Accountability is hard to case study to The Structural Engineer industry in Scotland and at Engineers
achieve, given that project-specific data on | encouraging organisations that set Without Borders UK.
emissions is rarely publicly available, making sustainability standards (LEED, BREEAM)
it difficult to see the broader impact. for buildings to go further
What could your role be to improve | proposing partnerships within your
REFERENCE
outcomes for communities impacted directly company with a broader range
or indirectly by skyscrapers? of organisations (including non- 1) Sunlight Foundation (s.d.) Guide to
governmental organisations and co-design [Online] Available at: https://
Your role may be to shift practices by: community-based organisations) to communities.sunlightfoundation.com/
| supporting the development of increase the limited funding often action/codesign/#what-is-co-design
community-based design codes, e.g. available. (Accessed: July 2023)
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35
Opinion Letters
Verulam
Send letters to…
All contributions to Verulam should be
submitted via email to: tse@istructe.org
Contributions may be edited on the grounds

of style and/or length by the Institution's
Readers’ letters, comments and queries publishing department.
Minimum with one larger beam overhead with

a plate to carry the wall construction
double-storey dwellings?
| In the event of a single-storey
masonry returns overhead, but in my experience, the

limiting factor is normally the beam-
extension, for example, why is the
minimum masonry return dictated by
In the July issue, we included a to-column moment connection, which the adjacent opening dimension (i.e.
letter from Ralph Tiemann who can soon become unmanageable. max [665mm, W/X]), even though
queried the need to change applied wind loading would not vary?
the length of brick wall returns DAVID WILSON | W
hy can an opening not exceed 3m
consequent on changing cavity Concerning Ralph Tiemann’s letter to ensure masonry return stability?
widths. We asked readers to shed (July 2023), I think there might be | C
an small window openings be
light on the query and have had resistance to increasing the amount introduced, e.g. small clerestory
responses, yet these just raise of structure in volume housebuilding. windows, without following the
further regulation and practice Such housing is sold on internal floor same guidelines?
anomalies. We will pursue a area, so an increase in the cavity width
feature addressing the many would mean that the external footprint It will be interesting to hear
queries raised. Meanwhile, let our gets larger but, or maybe therefore, responses to Ralph’s column,
correspondents have their say: the corresponding returns are larger. as well as a response from the
Would it be appropriate to consider Brick Development Association as
GARY SMITH the total area of masonry including approached by Verulam.
It was refreshing to see the the L-shape of the outer leaf over the Without wanting to expand the
contribution by Ralph Tiemann (July width of the cavity wall? If so, doesn’t subject too much and lose focus, it
2023) on the ⅓ ‘in’ vs ⅔ ‘out’ rule the total area of masonry remain the can be similarly difficult to follow the
when assessing openings in walls, same for the same external length of reason for requirements for buttresses
particularly in domestic construction. return? I haven’t done the calculations, as per Diagrams 12 and 13. The
The 665mm rule on corners (also but the first and second moments of common case being the removal of an
known as the ‘three-brick rule’) is area might also be considered. internal 100mm wall, which is currently
obviously deemed to satisfy as a On the question of smaller openings, providing buttressing to an external
minimum and I’m surprised how many my engineering logic suggests that wall. There doesn’t appear to be clear
engineers, contractors, architects and they should be less significant. For guidance on minimum spacings/
building inspectors have never heard example, a downstairs WC of about lengths for such a case.
of either of these rules. I have seen 450mm width × 600mm height is small
designs associated with the removal when compared to patio doors at ROBERT ATKINSON
of the rear wall in three-storey town 1800mm width × 2050mm height. The structural requirements for
houses (in terrace rows of four) with domestic dwellings have changed
100% of the back wall removed, with SAM GRAY much in recent times with the advent
only checks on the beams and the end The matters put forward by Ralph of ‘open-plan living’. The small
padstones being included. Problems Tiemann (July 2023) regarding builder, formerly used to installing the
therefore arise with lateral stability the minimum masonry returns in occasional beam, is now faced with
being provided by ‘the neighbour’s domestic projects are something the erection of substantial steel frames
property’ and buckling of the we often deal with and often result and, perhaps understandably, tends to
supporting wall being a concern yet in office discussions. rail against the introduction of frames
remaining unchecked. While it is understood that Document in external walls.
It should be noted that any A should not be followed blindly and The architect may use the third rule,
remaining piers should be capable an engineered design can be adopted, but inevitably forgets the 3m opening
of withstanding the resulting opening it is not clear how the requirements size limitation. In my experience,
beam-end vertical reactions and the of Diagram 14 were decided upon. building control have requested
lateral loads, and due cognisance Common queries include: 665mm piers in a porch, reducing
should be taken with regards to the | H ow was 665mm calculated and the potential door opening to the size
inner leaf taking the higher percentage does this relate to all forms of of a letter box!
of the overall load due to the masonry construction? (Ralph’s It is a mystery as to how the 665mm
construction above. comments would appear to suggest pier rule was derived. One sees
The sway frame in Ralph’s this is just for cavity walls, and countless thousand properties defying
correspondence is normally the specifically originally related to the rule without ill effects.
preferred solution until the client is 75mm cavities. However, Diagram An apparent contradiction in the
made aware of the resulting foundation 14, item 8 suggests in may also be Building Regulations are the rules for
issues and underpinning requirements relevant for solid walls.) single-storey, non-residential buildings
that come with it. Single columns at | W hy are the same dimensions where small piers are acceptable.
either end are normally better served applicable to single-storey and Proving the adequacy of the lateral
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36
Letters Opinion
support provided by brickwork piers to find any specific guidance from the
a single-storey extension with a vaulted Institution with regards to reporting
roof is nigh on impossible. Hence, we on this, advice on remedial works, or
fall back on the ‘rules of thumb’ within technical guidance.
the Building Regulations. In a recent example, concerns were
There is a need for further guidance raised following significant erosion of
on the subject and it would be very new-build properties and subsequently
useful if the Brick Development mortar samples were taken. The
Association could assist. erosion was related to weathering
in a harsh coastal environment, with
Reusing no clear signs of structural or other

relatable movement.
structural Following National House Building
steel beams
I have often been asked if we Council (NHBC) guidelines and various
would consider higher percentages research papers, the coastal location
of GGBS in our precast products to (category 3 – severe exposure) would
HENRY DALTON lower their embodied carbon. Apart require a minimum M6 mortar (the
I was disturbed to read the article by from the operational constraints Brick Development Association also
Claire Meade of Griffiths and Armour associated with longer curing times, I recommends that the mortar should
about specifying reused structural have passionately advocated that this use sulphate-resisting cement). The
steel in the June issue of The is missing the point. This article gives mortar samples taken showed that
Structural Engineer. hard supporting evidence why. the mortar used was M4 class, which
As far as I can see, there is no What I believe we need to do is make was less than required (and actually
difference in principle between each cube of precious concrete work less than detailed in the construction
checking an old beam which is to be harder if we are going to cast it at all. drawings). There was also an insoluble
taken from one building and reused I have no doubt more carbon-efficient residue (IR) content equalling approx.
in another and checking an old beam mixes will become scalable. In the 12%, which affects the strength of
which is to remain in situ in an existing meantime, we must aim at the most the mortar (I believe codes suggest IR
building but subject to increased load. carbon-efficient use of the materials should not exceed 5%). It was therefore
Both require an assessment to be available. For me, this is using higher- my opinion that failure of the mortar
made of the strength of the old beam, strength concretes such as ultra- was due to an inadequate mortar mix.
so why are insurers concerned about high-performance fibre-reinforced From discussions, this is perhaps
the former but apparently not the latter? concrete (UHPFRC) to drive thinner more common due to ‘design mixes’
sections and more manufacturable and poorer materials. Worryingly, despite
efficient forms that result in less carbon the above, the developer’s independent
If anything, the case of an old steel consumed per functional unit, rather engineer advised the mortar was suitable
beam remaining in situ appears the than just a lazy look at carbon per based solely on its compressive strength
riskier. If a beam is removed, at least tonne or metre cubed. for the unloaded outer leaf.
its total surface area can be The common solution provided
inspected. If it remains, the flange by NHBC is to rake out to 25mm
condition might be hidden. The article referred to certainly throughout and re-point using a
showed that practice is a bit more suitable mortar grade. My concern
GGBS for complex than many assume. There with this approach is the possibility of
carbon
are positives: using GGBS offers serious consequences if inadequate
benefits. On the downside, using and understrength mortar has been
reduction UHPFRC and thinner sections can

have disbenefits. As with specifying
used throughout a property, as this
could affect the bond of wall ties,
GGBS, we’ve always got to be mindful strength of supporting masonry, etc.
MARK PNIEWSKI of unintended consequences: design If such issues were of concern, I
Cracking article by Fergal Kelly in The is a balance. can’t see many better options than
Structural Engineer (July 2023) on how purposeful demolition and rebuild.
using ground granulated blast-furnace
slag (GGBS) in concrete reduces carbon Pointing on
emissions. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. new-build Verulam doesn’t recall any previous
properties
Fergal’s research painstakingly letters covering this topic. What Sam’s
evidences that specifying GGBS for letter shows is that there are
carbon reduction makes no difference complications with every aspect of
to emissions – because the nation’s SAM GRAY the building craft. Pointing is one topic
finite and dwindling supply of GGBS In recent times, I have been instructed that every householder seems to have
would get used anyway for its to inspect and report on the condition a view on. How it is done can certainly
mechanical properties, as has been of pointing to new-build properties, alter a wall’s appearance significantly
the case for decades. What’s worse, often due to concerns with erosion and there can be problems if pointing
increased demand for GGBS could soon after construction. This seems mortar is too weak or too strong.
drive a market for imports, increasing to be a worryingly common issue Pointing must be durable, while the
its carbon footprint compared with it (and may have been discussed in bedding mortar behind (which might
getting used nearer source. Verulam before); however, I can’t be different) serves several functions.
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37
At the back Diary dates
Most events run by IStructE

HQ are being delivered online.
For in-person events, a
location will be given.
History Study Group meetings
Diary dates
start at 18:00 and are free of
charge to attend. Registration
is not typically required.
Meetings may be online or in
person.
For Regional Group events,
check the website for the
latest information. Note that more current information may be available from
the Institution website: www.istructe.org/events
CONFERENCE Time: 18:00–19:30 Venue: Online

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Price: Free
Register: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2023/ 12 September
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5–6 September Tutor: Dennis Lam
WEBINAR Using computational design in practice Time: 10:00–17:30
19 September Tutor: Harri Lewis Venue: IStructE HQ
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Tutor: John Owen Time: 10:00–17:30
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Time: 10:00–17:30 Time: 10:00–17:30
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Diary dates At the back
Venue: Online REGIONAL GROUPS Price: Free

Price (early booking): Members: £305 + VAT Note that events are subject to Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-
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structural-engineering-non-structural- information and for registration details. NORTHERN IRELAND AND
engineer-(1)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND –
AUSTRALIA BELFAST HUB
26 September
Structural engineering with bamboo 8 August 19 September
Tutors: David Trujillo and Seb Kaminski Joint IStructE & ICE event - Mind the Templemore Baths restoration
Time: 10:00–17:30 decarbonisation gap Speaker: John McConville
Venue: Online Speakers: Dr Peter McArdle, Hannah Jones, Time: 18:15
Price (early booking): Members: £305 + VAT Kengo Takamatsu, Prof Philip Oldfield and Venue: Templemore Baths, Belfast BT5 4FW
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Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2023/ Time: 10:00–17:30 Contact: Fionnuala Boyle
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NSW 2000
27 September Price: Free SURREY
Eurocode 3: structural steelwork design Register: www.istructe.org/events/australia/
Tutor: Bob Benton joint-istructe-ice-mind-the-decarbonisation-gap 29 September
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Speaker: Mike Sefton regional-group-annual-awards-dinner-2023
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Venue: Online and Room: SPB024, School of Regional Group Committee members
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Grimstone Street, Wolverhampton WV10 0JP
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At the back Spotlight on Structures
All articles in Structures are

available free of charge to
paying-grade members of
the Institution as one of their
membership benefits.
The journal is available
online at:
www.structuresjournal.org
Read the latest issue

Volume 52 (June 2023) of Structures is now available to read at:
www.sciencedirect.com/journal/structures/vol/52.
For Volume 52, Lei Wang, Associate Editor for Structures, has selected
an article on finite element analysis that is used to predict shear behaviour of
headed studs in steel ultra-high performance concrete slabs.
This article will be available free of charge for six months.
Editor’s Featured Article

Finite element analysis on shear Headed stud connectors play a key role in as the ratio of stud spacing to diameter is less
behavior of headed studs in steel-UHPC steel- ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) than 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5 for the diameter of 13mm,
composite slab composite slab, which has many applications in 16mm and 19mm respectively. A formula to
Wexu Hua, b, Cong Lib, c, Baochun Chenb, d and long-span bridges. In this paper, a finite element predict the shear bearing capacity of stud is
Yongjian Liua (FE) model is validated by a series of push-out proposed by considering the influence of weld
a
School of Highway, Chang’an University, tests to study the shear behaviours of headed collar and group stud effect. A shear-slip model
Xi’an, China stud in steel-UHPC composite slab. After of stud is established based on experimental
b
College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, validation, the interaction between stud and and FE analysis results.
Fuzhou, China UHPC is explored and parametric analysis is
c
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, performed. The influence of weld collar, diameter | Read the full paper at https://doi.
Guangxi University, Nanning, China and spacing of stud on the failure mode, shear org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.03.185
d
National Center for Joint International Research bearing capacity and load-slip relationship of
of Bridges Technology Innovation and Risk stud connector are discussed. From FE results,
Mitigation, Fuzhou, China the group stud effect should be considered,
Register for alerts

If you’d like to receive regular updates about new content in Structures, register for email alerts at www.sciencedirect.com.
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The Drawing Board At the back
The Drawing Board

Judged by Ron Slade.
This month, Ron has chosen a sketch by Andrew Barr as the winner of The Drawing Board.
Andrew will receive an e-book of his choice from the Institution’s current catalogue.
Andrew Barr
I produced these sketches following the emphasised section cuts and
collapse of the Kakhovka Dam in mechanical aspects through colour, as Ron Slade
Ukraine on 6 June 2023, and shared well as adding plenty of annotations. The BSc(Eng), CEng, FIStructE
them on social media as part of an two sections highlight the different
explanatory thread on the structure. I felt structures of the barrage and the Ron Slade is Structural Director at
that section views were a useful way of hydroelectric power plant, both of which WSP. Ron received his BSc First
introducing a wider audience to the key were partially destroyed, while the plan Class Honours in Civil Engineering
features of dams and hydroelectric view at the top places them in the at City University, London, and became a
power plants, and would be important to context of the larger earthfill Chartered Member of the Institution of
inform ongoing media discussion on the embankment dam. Structural Engineers in 1971 when he was
cause of the collapse. (It turned out to be awarded the Institution’s A.E. Wynn prize.
a useful starting point for conversations Ron’s comments He was first appointed as a director in 1982.
with journalists!) Andrew’s submission depicts the
Ron is also the author of Sketching
As someone who researches the Kakhovka Dam and hydroelectric power
effects of explosions on structures, the plant in Ukraine and shows how hand for Engineers and Architects, published
devastating failure of the dam had sketches can help simplify complex by Routledge.
caught my attention professionally, but I issues. He produced these sketches
was keen that this sketch would be clear following the collapse of the dam and
to a non-specialist audience. I simplified shared them on social media as part of
some old drawings of the structure and an explanatory thread.
DON’T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOURS...
To enter, submit a sketch to tse@istructe.org together with a short description to put it into context (150 words). Sketches must be hand drawn (no CAD,
except for ‘guided freehand’) and from a real project or assignment (i.e. not drawn for the competition). The next deadline is 30 September 2023.
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41
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August 2023

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purchasing manager placing £12M | y

against corruption in the countries, REFERENCES

At Arup, the BIPAS (Buildings and

Eden Project Dundee

programme where engineering

IFEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS

FEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS

rather than simply serving the needs of

FEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS

Introduction Community 1 minimise waste through reuse, employ

YOU ARE WASTING in England likely to be affected by rising

BOUND UP WITH communities could relocate or accept some

© INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (www.iap2.org)

Professionals skilled in facilitation and FIGURE 2: Global Responsibility Competency Compass

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS UK

Develop yourself and the impact you have

Step 1: Develop yourself

The Global Responsibility Competency

Step 2: Connect to communities the design code community portal Conclusion

Contributions may be edited on the grounds

Minimum with one larger beam overhead with

masonry returns overhead, but in my experience, the

Reusing no clear signs of structural or other

reduction UHPFRC and thinner sections can

Most events run by IStructE

CONFERENCE Time: 18:00–19:30 Venue: Online

Venue: Online REGIONAL GROUPS Price: Free