Buro Happold

The Hamburg team has a new address!

We are delighted to share with you the news that the Buro Happold office has moved into its new Mindspace premises. It was all hands on deck and the move was completed without a hitch earlier this week. Following the hard work, the team enjoyed a trip to the Christmas market at the Townhall.

The new office is located in the old town of Hamburg at the Klöpperhaus in Rödingsmarkt, a historic landmark building within walking distance of the famous Speicherstadt district and a 15-minute walk from one of Buro Happold’s projects, the Überseequartier.

Find the Hamburg team here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DhdZaH3ZCUAZSmoq5

After more than two decades calling Newman Street our home in London, we're thrilled to share the exciting news – we're embarking on a new chapter at the Featherstone Building.

Over the past 20+ years, Newman Street has been witness to our incredible journey, experiencing remarkable growth, evolving from a team less than 100 to an impressive 719 and counting in 2023. Our London office has been a hub of innovation, spearheading projects that reach across the city and beyond – from iconic restorations, delivering on immovable Millennium and Olympian deadlines to inspiring collaborations, our teams have left a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Moving to the Featherstone building is more than just changing offices; it's a symbol of growth, progress, and the exciting future ahead. Our new space will serve as a hub for creativity and productivity, reflecting our commitment to staying at the forefront of our industry.

Thank you, Newman Street, for the memories. Here's to the next chapter at the Featherstone Building.

In the latest, December issue of Builder Polska magazine, Associate Director Maciej Sobotkowski shared insights on the evolution of the Warsaw skyline in the face of newly emerging high-rise buildings.

Based on Buro Happold's experiences in designing structures such as Q22 (195m), Generation Park (140m), and Upper One (130m), he delves into the process of their realisation as well as the technical aspects of designing these impressive constructions.

Read the full article on page 54: https://builderpolska.pl/2023/11/30/12-2023-builder/

Image: Maciej Sobotkowski

We’re thrilled to share that Battersea Power Station has won at the World Architecture Festival in the Completed Buildings: Mixed-Use category.

The power station has recently received several awards including landmark project for raising the standard for retrofit and facade retention at scale at the The Institution of Structural Engineers Awards, Project of the Year - Refurbishment UK at the CIBSE Society of Façade Engineering (SFE) Awards and Project of the Year at the 2023 Building Magazine Awards.

Opening its doors to the public in 2022, the transformation of this beloved London landmark has been an incredible process, creating a vibrant twenty-first-century destination in the Battersea area.

Our multi-disciplinary approach saw our team collaborate with a range of architects to realise the client's vision of a stand-out mixed-use space.

After numerous attempts to repurpose the structure prior to this project, it seemed that Battersea Power Station was always going to defy modernisation. However, since starting on this development in 2012, we have been delighted to be part of realising this ambitious solution to one of London's most complex engineering challenges.

Click here to learn more about the project: https://buro.im/3XwEVzv

Battersea Power Station – Building Works The award-winning Battersea Power Station has been sympathetically transformed from a much-loved industrial relic into a vibrant twenty-first century destination.

Buro Happold is celebrating multiple nominations at this year’s CIBSE Society of Digital Engineering (SDE) awards, including Best Consultancy.

Across the company, Buro Happold’s incredible personnel have innovated with both products, processes and projects over the past year and is delighted to see this success recognised.

Within the 'Best Project and Collaboration' category, Buro Happold is nominated for digital twins for cities and our work on Everton Football Club.

In the 'Best Process and its Application', Buro Happold is shortlisted for our Digital Twin Advanced 3D analytics and visualisation capabilities.

Our final shortlisting for Best Consultancy recognises digitally enabled workplaces with enhanced process efficiencies and project outcomes achieved through digital innovation across the workforce.

View all the shortlisting: https://buro.im/3RbQxp7

Learn more about our digital twin service: https://buro.im/3XOhl0L

SDE Digital Awards 2023 Shortlist | CIBSE Open to individuals who have excelled in their field using digital technologies and shown innovation in digital processes and/or collaboration. Individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by colleagues.

Pushing the ‘sound waves’ of acoustic design: Benenden School’s music hall and school – a case study.

A ‘musical instrument in its own right’, Benenden School’s new concert hall and music school, designed by architects Hollaway Studio, was made to give life to music and the cultural education of Benenden’s pupils and the local community.

The building, though boldly contemporary, respects the heritage of the grounds and the Grade-II listed status of the existing school building.

Buro Happold was engaged by the client team to help shape an environment that embodies ‘acoustic perfection.’

The ovoid shaped, timber-clad concert hall – named ‘Centenary Hall’ - has been designed by our acoustic team so that the all 750-seats may be addressed without using a microphone, with the space also having sufficient acoustic responsiveness to support a live orchestra.

The reflecting timber cladding was selected for its unparalleled acoustic qualities and regenerative nature, along with FlutterFree wood panelling, which is key for controlling echoes and absorbing low frequencies, so the sound is reflected back into the space.

Read the full story in the Architect’s Journal below.

Case study: Benenden School Music School and Hall by Hollaway Studio Benenden’s new Concert Hall and Music School by Hollaway Studio is a ‘musical Instrument in its own ...

The First Museum COP Summit: How cultural institutions can be a catalyst for conversation and change...

Organised by the National Museum Directors’ Council and bringing together leaders from 68 UK museums, sector bodies, and funders, the first Museum COP Summit recently took place at the Tate Modern, London.

The summit aimed to generate conversations about combatting the Anthropocene – changes in the earth’s environment caused by human activity, our current geological era.

Andrew Wylie, Partner at Buro Happold, attended the event to discuss the opportunity for the museums and gallery sector to decarbonise their buildings’ operational emissions based on the methods established in the Arts Green Book.

Andrew said: “Exploring the role of cultural organisations in addressing the climate crisis and how, as a sector, we can move beyond simply mitigating to creating positive environmental impact.”

The museum leaders outlined a series of initiatives aimed at engaging the public in mitigating climate impacts, such as sustainable collections and exhibitions to raise awareness about the climate crisis, and also called for collaboration from governmental bodies, businesses and funders as an approach to facilitating the decarbonisation process.

Read more about the Arts Green Book on our website here: https://buro.im/ArtsGreenBook

For the full story on the Museum COP Summit, click below.

UK Museum COP Summit Promises A Greener Future In an unparalleled move, leaders from 68 UK museums, sector bodies, and funders have come together for the first UK Museum COP summit.

Combining thoughtful design and natural building materials: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool.

Intuitive design is key when it comes to creating exceptional medical facilities. The Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, a specialist mental health centre, brings together two buildings situated around a stunning central garden area.

Andrew Tabern, Partner at Buro Happold, said: “We were delighted to be part of the winning Cullinan Studio Team in 2018 and have the opportunity to help create a design that responded to the needs of the users.

“Our collaboration has created a truly distinctive facility that utilises natural structural materials within a landscape that responds to the building and its surrounding environment.”

The use of nature as part of the design brings the outside ‘in’ when in the cloistered corridors running round the edge of the garden, whilst the timber entrance lobby gives a calming, natural feel to the building.

The site’s 4,445 sqm of internal floor area combines two facilities: The Catkin Centre and Sunflower House.

Buro Happold was engaged to provide multi-disciplinary engineering services, including Building Services Engineering (MEP), structural engineering and fire engineering. The project team also consisted of Cullinan Studio, 10architect, Turkington Martin and Gleeds.

Read the article in the Architect’s Journal below for the full story.

Cullinan Studio completes Alder Hey Hospital community complex The 3,000m² project, for Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, brings together a range of sp...

Increasing delays and costs when it comes to grid connections have been making the headlines a lot lately.

Invariably, this has an impact on the drive to net zero and take-up of renewables. It also critically impacts investment, because everything needs power to work – whether commercially or new housing developments.

Chris Glover, Director of the Total Utilities Management team at Buro Happold, talks about the conundrum when we focus on transmission rather than distribution.

He also asks why the rate of change is so slow and what needs to be addressed to get out of idle and into second gear for effective reform of the system so we can achieve real change.

Read the article in New Civil Engineer here: https://buro.im/ChrisGloverNCE

The Connections Action Plan: a step in the right direction, but a sleight of hand that lacks speed and accountability There is reason to be optimistic, but not without a dose of caution. There has been a huge am...

Last Wednesday, we actively participated in the 6th edition of the Nowe Oblicze BIM conference organised by WSC. In an expert circle – alongside architects, designers, investors, and contractors – we had the opportunity to look into the future of the building industry.

During the presentation on the benefits of implementing integrated multi-disciplinary design at the conceptual stage, Paweł Chudzik outlined the course of the investment process from the designers’ perspective. Participants learned how properly setting the direction can minimise the need for changes in the final stages of a project.

Addressing the preparations for changes in construction in the face of new regulations, Mirette Khorshed and Wiktor Kowalski from the Sustainability team shared their insights on requirements for buildings and investors. Their presentation on estimating the carbon footprint of buildings at various stages of the design process presented the possibilities of using BIM tools.

Many thanks to the organisers for the opportunity to participate in this event.



Images: Buro Happold, WSC

We are excited to share that Varso Tower has received the prestigious Eurobuild Awards in the Office Building of the Year, CEE category.

Varso Tower, developed by HB Reavis and designed by Foster + Partners and Epstein, stands as the tallest building in the European Union. Across 53 floors, it provides 67,000 square meters of functional space. Our Warsaw team has undertaken a comprehensive design of all MEP installations to ensure its efficient operation.

Situated in the heart of Warsaw, this architectural marvel offers companies premium office space with a strong focus on user comfort and health. Built with well-being and ESG criteria at its core, Varso Tower features more than just office spaces. Tourists will soon have an opportunity to visit two public rooftop terraces, which are among the highest in Europe, to enjoy breathtaking views across the city.



Photo: HB Reavis

Buro Happold is delighted to share that two of our projects won at the 2023 Architects’ Journal awards.

Mayfield, Manchester, won in the Landscape and Public Realm Category.

The frenzied development of Manchester over the last 20 years has seen the city's population rise massively, and with that, the need for green space has risen too. With the explosion of Manchester's cityscape came the sudden realisation of the limited green space in the central area. Mayfield Park is here to change that. Learn more about the project here: https://buro.im/3KtZUfA

The Parcels Building, London, won in the Refurb Category.

The retrofit of a former 1957 office building into a co-working space with the existing retail and office accommodation being renewed and extended. The judges commented, ‘Almost what you can’t see is the most impressive about this scheme. The team have really thought imaginatively about taking this building into another use and life.’ Read more about the project: https://buro.im/3STrjxW

Battersea Power Station Phase 2, London, was highly commendation in the Mixed-Use category.

The incredible restoration of Battersea Power Station is one Buro Happold is exceptionally proud of, with the industrial relic now transformed into a thriving twenty-first-century destination. We provided a huge array of services towards this remarkable project, realising the client's vision to reimagine this former power station as the centrepiece of a vibrant new urban community and destination.

Learn more about the project here: https://buro.im/2qbtYr

Full list of award winners: https://buro.im/3RbeQEJ

Winners revealed for AJ Architecture Awards 2023 Below are the winners in 20 of the enterable categories ranging from Civic to Workplace, Culture to ...

“There is more to designing for net zero carbon than meeting requirements and receiving accreditations,” believes Associate Director Gencay Tatlidamak, Buro Happold’s Sustainability and Physics Lead Europe.

He advocates for a more holistic approach to design by defining the energy concept at the outset of a project and critically re-evaluating how we plan and power our architecture.

“Building with net-zero carbon as a goal must become a guiding principle in the architecture, engineering and urban planning professions,” he says. But, he continues, “adopting a holistic approach fundamentally changes the planning process. Building sustainably is no longer only about receiving certifications, but rather about reading a project and a context closely to identify opportunities and make the right, specific decision.”

In this article Gencay considers three important aspects for architects, engineers and builders to arrive at net zero.

What is a truly holistic approach to designing for Net-Zero Carbon? What is a truly holistic approach to designing for Net-Zero Carbon? We take a look at the three aspects that need to be balanced in a design.

A landmark project in Germany is being developed as a showcase for transformational low-carbon energy technologies.

Brainergy Hub, developed by the municipalities Jülich, Niederzier, Titz and Kreis Düren as part of Brainergy Park Jülich, is set to become a shining example of Germany’s shift towards renewable energy and a green future.

Designed by HENN architects, the hub’s distinctive circular design incorporates a hybrid structure of timber, concrete and steel. The use of structural timber significantly lowers the projects embodied carbon and empowers after-life material use.

An integrated design approach and smart synergies between energy saving and energy producing measures will facilitate a building that is almost net-zero carbon. It is envisioned that the building will generate more renewable energy than it consumes, with excess energy fed back into a low carbon district heating network.

Find out more about the sustainability and low-carbon credentials of the building.

Brainergy Hub Pushing the boundaries of sustainable innovation Home » Projects » Brainergy Hub Brainergy Hub Jülich, Germany Project detailsClientHENN/Brainergy ParkArchitectHENNDuration2022-2026Services provided by Buro HappoldBuilding Services Engineering (MEP), Structural engineering, Sustainability & physi...

15 Minute Communities were back in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons...

Or do you disagree, were they rightly highlighted as an issue in recent weeks? We want to delve deeper into this concept and your feelings about them with a quick survey (and a little incentive of ten £50 Amazon gift vouchers to be won!).

The 15 Minute Community imagines neighbourhoods where you’re able to walk and/or cycle to all your everyday amenities within just 15 minutes of your home (we delved deeper into this idea with an article back in June which you can still read here: https://lnkd.in/euQAFq8U).

The 15-minute city (also known as the 15-minute community) is a growing urban development concept in the UK, which seeks to re-instate the idea of a thriving local community, whilst creating convenience for those living within it by making all local amenities just a 15-minute walk or cycle from your home.

Today is World Cities Day 2023, led by the United Nations, which aims to push for global co-operation in sustainable urban development. In light of this, we would love to get your thoughts on the future of the 15-minute city in the UK.

With ten £50 Amazon gift vouchers up for grabs*, please take the short survey below and tell us in more detail what you think. Survey link: https://buro.im/15MCsurvey2

*T&Cs are in the linked survey

Delivering future building services for one of the UK’s most historic universities.

We are pleased to announce that we have been selected for the University of Cambridge Estates Division Professional Services Framework. We look forward to working with the university to deliver future design and construction projects.

Mike Entwisle, Partner at Buro Happold, said: “We are delighted to have been selected for the University of Cambridge Estates Division Professional Services Framework.

“This will enable us to build on over thirty years of delivering world class projects in the city including notable projects for the University such as the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, the David Attenborough Building, the Institute of Criminology and the Faculties of English and Music.

“Our Cambridge office provides an ideal location for us to engage with the University and its myriad stakeholders, and we look forward to developing the relationship between the University and Buro Happold in the coming years.”

Read more on our website below.

Buro Happold appointed on the University of Cambridge Estates Division Professional Services Framework We are pleased to announce that we have been selected for the University of Cambridge Estates Division Professional Services Framework.

Could cultural buildings facilitate the UK’s decarbonisation process? Find out today at 1pm.

In conversation with ACHATES Inspires, Andrew Wylie, Partner at Buro Happold, will be discussing The Arts Green Book and the cultural sector’s role in creating a positive environmental impact in an online event at 1pm today.

The Arts Green Book was co-authored by our sustainability experts, along with Renew Culture, supported by Arts Council England and the Greater London Authority. It provides practical guidance to help make cultural buildings – which, as part of the built environment, can be major producers of carbon emissions – more sustainable.

For the creation of the Arts Green Book, we also consulted with cultural organisations at all sectors and scales across the UK, including museums, galleries, music and dance venues, cinemas, libraries and archives.

Andrew said: “Exploring the role of cultural organisations is key in addressing the climate crisis and how, as a sector, we can move beyond simply mitigating to creating positive environmental impact.”

Listen in to ‘The Arts Green Book: moving beyond a ‘sustainable’ sector’ at 1pm today by signing up using the link below.

Read more about the Arts Green Book on our website here: https://buro.im/ArtsGreenBook

Achates Inspires: The Arts Green Book: moving beyond a ‘sustainable’ sector at Online Tickets are now available for Achates Inspires: The Arts Green Book: moving beyond a ‘sustainable’ sector at Online, Online on Tue 21 Nov 2023 at 1:00PM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

Can a whole country achieve a 70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in just seven years?

That is the ambitious goal Denmark has set itself across all industries. In a move away from a voluntary standard, the Danish Ministry of Interior and Housing’s national strategy introduced mandatory regulations for sustainable construction. From 2023 onwards, a strict, maximum value of greenhouse gas (CO2 equivalent) emissions for new buildings will be in place.

Our expert Peter Konnerup, Associate Structural Engineer in our Copenhagen office hails this a crucial step for decarbonising the built environment.

Read his analysis of the implications of the new requirements for the Danish construction industry.

How Denmark leads the way in decarbonising the construction industry Denmark’s strategy for sustainable construction is based on a voluntary standard but in 2023 this becomes mandatory. We look at the implications of this change.

We’re happy to announce that Buro Happold has been shortlisted for The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Building Performance Awards 2024 in not just one, but two categories!

Our commitment to excellence and innovation in the built environment has earned us a spot on the shortlist in the highly competitive Building Performance Consultancy (over 300 employees) category. We are also honoured to see our Astor College Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) project recognised in the Project of the Year - Retrofit category.

This accomplishment is a testament to the collective expertise, creativity, and commitment of the entire Buro Happold team. We are proud to be at the forefront of shaping a more sustainable and resilient built environment. Thank you to our incredible team for their hard work and dedication that makes them truly exceptional, as is the work we do.

Congratulations to all the finalists in each category. The anticipation builds as we eagerly await the announcement of the winners in February.

View the full list of finalists: https://buro.im/3ufWOIl

Building a ‘beacon’ of knowledge: Plans submitted for Manchester Metropolitan University’s 13-storey ‘Living Library’.

Buro Happold is working alongside Hawkins\Brown and SHL - Schmidt Hammer Lassen on the recent submission of plans to replace a 1970s library and provide The Manchester Metropolitan University with a ‘modern and dynamic’ learning tower and a five storey ’tail’, created from the retrofitted existing library structure with sustainability at the forefront.

We have been engaged by the client and Hawkins\Brown to provide multi-disciplinary engineering services, including civil and structural engineering, Building Services Engineering (MEP), building performance, acoustics, facade engineering, fire design, transport, and people flow.

This incredible re-development will create multi-use spaces which place student learning at the forefront in a modern library that encompasses the new digital age.

Manchester Met is a top three university in the ‘People and Planet’ University League, with the aim to be a beacon of sustainable development practice by 2030. Sustainability and net zero are at the core of this project.

Mei Ren, Partner at Buro Happold said: “The ‘Living Library’ will be a pioneering example of the future of university libraries across the UK, designed to create flexible spaces allowing students to effectively learn, study, innovate and socialise all in one place.

“As multi-disciplinary consultants on this project, we have an important role to support Manchester Met in achieving their vision for the ‘Living Library’ and their sustainability goals. It has been a pleasure to work with such an inspiring and supportive client at the university.”

Read the full story in the Architect’s Journal below.

Hawkins\Brown and Schmidt Hammer Lassen submit plans for Manchester library tower The 'landmark development' will spell the end for the existing All Saints Library in Oxford Road to ...

Forum Dostępności (The Accessibility Forum) sheds light on the challenges and opportunities related to shaping spaces accessible to everyone. This event, aimed at representatives from various industries and individuals with specific needs, brought together experts, creators, and practitioners in discussions about legal and social changes, as well as the future of inclusive design.

Our experts were invited to attend and speak on both days of the event. On the opening day, Wiktor Kowalski, Sustainability & Structures Associate, participated in a panel dedicated to well-being and ESG topics in business. The second day of the event provided an opportunity to listen to a panel discussing the role of multi-functional facilities in building accessibility, led by Jan Cieśla, Inclusive Design Associate Director.

Developed with support of Buro Happold, the PAS 6463:2022 “Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment” guide sparked much interest and discussion during the event.

Forum Dostępności provided a friendly space for the exchange of thoughts, experiences, and inspiration. Many thanks to Fundacja Integracja for the opportunity to participate in this event.