KB² Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers

Last week the KB2 team undertook a site visit to see progress with our project on Bristol's harbourside. A fantastic opportunity to see the building almost at it's structural peak. This project is a 7 storey structure housing a basement carpark and 13 luxury apartments with views over Bristol's picturesque floating harbour. A big thank you to John Perkins Construction, OXFORD ARCHITECTS LLP and MDA Consulting - great working with you all on this project.

Really insightful presentation by Stephen Scown yesterday on the roles and responsibilities of Trustees in Employee Owned Companies. Thank you for sharing your advice and experiences.

KB2 are providing civil and structural engineering services for a large new school facility in Somerset.
We've utilised state of the art modelling software to both draw and analyse the structure in a 3D environment.

KB2 provided engineering services for a new wing with guest accommodation, spa and event space at Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire

Project scope included hotel parking and re-surfacing the historic driveway and portcullis entrance to this Grade I listed building.

Services provided by KB2 also included drainage strategy design as well as internal alterations and repairs to improve hotel accommodation and hospitality spaces.

One year after our first post celebrating 40 years of KB2 and that’s our look back over 40 years of KB2 1982-2022 completed. Do you have a favourite moment or project that we shared with you? We are now looking forward to our next 40 years!

Completed in 2022, a new 2-storey extension on a challenging site at Hayesfield Girls’ School in Bath. The design included the school dining room, a new drama suite with performance space and an external connection bridge to improve connections back to the existing building. The structural design required piled foundations to overcome unfavourable ground conditions and a sloping topography. The superstructure was designed with site access constraints in mind and was formed in steel frame with composite concrete slab and lightweight roof.

In 2021 KB2 provided structural and civil designs for Little Wyld, a spacious and modern 4 bedroom private dwelling in Bathford, built in an annexed portion of a Manor House Garden. This project won the LABC Best Individual New Home 2021

In 2020 KB2 were the civil and structural engineers for the conversion of The Grain Barn, an historic stone barn in Chelvey, North Somerset. The design consisted of repair and replacement of parts of the existing structure along with a single storey extension; all of which was sensitively detailed to respect the historic fabric. This included using solid oak trusses and framing. The end result is a luxury, 5-bedroom family home with a modern touch.

Starting in 2019 Poole Farm Barn, a project to convert an existing agricultural building in North Somerset into a residential dwelling. The finished building combines modern high-spec finishes along exposed steelwork reflecting the buildings past. The location of the building benefits from fantastic views over an Area of Outstanding Beauty and this is utilised by large glazing panels on the southern and eastern elevations.

2018 KB2 worked on refurbishment of the Avenue Shopping Centre reclaiming the façade that was overclad in the 1980’s. It was fascinating to see what was covered up. The new look is a modern take on the landmark building it once was.

Completed in 2017, KB2 provided the structural design of a new 3-storey building at The New Room, an historic Grade I listed building known to be oldest Methodist chapel in the world. The project received a £2.5m Heritage lottery fund grant.

2016 and our project focus is Falmouth University. We have worked on various areas at the university including The Heart at Penryn Campus, a striking gateway building and visitors reception. Also, The Fox Atrium providing new teaching facilities and refectory space.

Its 2015 in our lookback over 40 years of KB2. This year brought about a major change KB2 went from KB2 Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers LLP to KB2 Consulting Engineers Ltd and started a new journey as an Employee Owned business.

At the end of 2014, a new surgical facility on the roof of Bristol Royal Infirmary's King Edwards Building was completed. KB2 were appointed to design the steel frame to support the prefabricated modular build, an unusual design challenge.

In 2013 KB2 were appointed to help conserve the buildings of Underfall Yard at the Harbourside, including a Victorian work yard and ancient monument . The restoration and conversion of a number of historic buildings into a Maritime Centre of Excellence including a learning centre and significant improvements to the public realm. Working with the Conservation Consultant, KB2 specified a host of sympathetic repairs to masonry, timber and concrete elements. The project was awarded £3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and its aim was to preserve its historic assets and unique character through sustainable commercial, leisure, tourism and educational developments that reflect the longstanding maritime history of the area.

2012 KB2 celebrated 30 years in business. In this year we also produced a post construction Survey Report for the boundary wall of the visitors centre at Clifton Suspension Bridge.

2011 Bath Fertility Centre a project to build a £1.3 million fertility clinic located in Peasedown St John just outside Bath began. KB2 provided the civil and structural design services from scheme design to construction completion.

2009 saw KB2 diversify into the relatively new market of Solar PV Surveys. In 2010 this included working with Solarsense on a project at Worthy Farm, home of the iconic Glastonbury Festival, where they installed the largest solar farm to date.

In 2008 a major company rebrand took place, changing the business from Kenneth Brown & Partners to KB2 Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers LLP. Creating a new brand identity including a new logo, style and colour palette.

It's 2007 in our lookback over 40 years of KB2. Our project for this year is the Epilepsy Centre which was three new care home buildings and a state of the art research centre. A £9 million construction project.

In 2006 KB2 started work in volume housing sector, assisting clients with large development residential projects. We've now gained a wealth of experience providing substructure and superstructure designs on sites across the south of the UK

2005 saw KB2 work on a major new build, the Territoral Army flagship training centre in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Here is the case study that was produced following the completion of the project.

In 2004 KB2 started to work with Strode College on the design of a new building to improve student facilities. This was the start of an ongoing relationship which saw KB2 working with the design team for many years ahead.

In 2003 KB2 worked with Stride Treglown Architects and TNV Construction on this £4m design and build project to produce an 80-bedroom hotel with restaurant, bar and conference facilities for Holiday Inn.

In 2002 KB2 were celebrating 20 years in business. Also we moved to no.12 Dowry Square and we are still there 20 years later!

On Friday 30th September KB2 competed in the Constructing Excellence 5 A-Side Football Tournament in South Bristol.
The first part of the tournament consisted of a group stage where KB2 played against Smith Consult, Burges Salmon, and Rappor, and we came away with a win, lose, and draw respectively.
4 points from the group stage entered us in to the “Plate” knock-out tournament. A win against Craddys in the quarter finals set up a re-match against a re-organised Smith Consult in the semi finals. Smith Consult recovered from a 2-0 deficit to bring the game to penalties, and 3 finely placed penalties in the bottom corner gave Smith Consult their revenge! Smith Consult then went on to win the “Plate” in the final. We pass on our congratulations to Smith Consult, and also to Faithful and Gould who were successful in the “Cup” half of the tournament.
Our thanks also to Constructing Excellence and Mode Consult for organising an enjoyable tournament.

KB2 celebrated their 40th birthday at The Mount Without, a fantastically restored former church which KB2 provided structural advice following severe fire damage. The party started in the nave and featured live piano music, speeches from Ken Brown (KB2 founder) and Norman Routledge (building owner) and tours of the tower, before moving down to the snazzy crypt area for drink, food, and of course a massive birthday cake. It was great to catch up with clients and industry acquaintances old and new, and we hope those who attended enjoyed it as much as we did!

Fantastic to see one of our projects on site and making progress.

Great to have this project on site after a long and protracted planning process.

The large house extension and remodel is going to look great and really starts to connect the house with its stunning site.

2001 saw the arrival of Nick Price as a graduate Structural Engineer. He is still with the business 21 years later and is now one of our company Directors.

Its the year 2000 in our lookback and a new millennium. The new deal initiative arrived. One of the projects to benefit was the Barton Hill Settlement.