Structural Engineering

We add value to our projects by listening carefully to our clients in order to ensure that we align with their objectives and the needs of building occupants, in addition to delivering structures that are safe, sustainable and cost-effective. From the earliest design stages, we plan for the diverse uses of a project through its whole life-cycle, focusing on efficiency and economy. We seek to deliver flexible solutions able to adapt to future needs, while optimizing the building structure to maximize property value.

With world-class engineering skills, technical back up and in-depth knowledge of current design standards, we deliver the best, most resilient and efficient structures for any type of building, anywhere in the world and in the most challenging conditions.

Our talented and experienced engineers are equipped with the most sophisticated design tools and constantly explore new ways to design and build using innovative materials and advanced methods of construction.

Our work includes assuring perfect acoustic performance for the concert hall at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, with a ‘box-in- box’ design to isolate the space from external sounds and vibrations. Other examples include overcoming challenging site conditions, heavy stone masonry and a heritage designation for a magnificent renovation of the Victoria Memorial Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada.

Overcoming Complex Structural Engineering Challenges

We regularly design structures on constrained inner-city sites with all of the associated challenges; for example, making use of existing basements and foundations, threading piles around underground services and infrastructure and working around underground rail tunnels. We provide commercial solutions to minimize the impact of wind on tall buildings through the innovative use of high strength concrete and steel and the intelligent use of acceleration damping. We also ensure the stability of buildings in earthquake zones and, through our expertise in analyzing the potential impact of extreme events on structures such as bomb blasts, we develop strategies for effective mitigation measures.

We have driven advances in engineering and innovative techniques to streamline building construction, minimize costs and reduce commercial risks. We pioneered the method of top-down construction for The Shard in London, saving approximately four months on the program. The technique is now used in the majority of our high-rise projects. We helped accelerate the build time for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool through the use of modular design. Many of the structural components were manufactured off-site, and by using precast concrete panels on the perimeter to distribute the load to the foundations, we also enabled maximum flexibility of room layouts inside the hospital.

Sustainable Structures

Sustainability credentials of buildings are becoming increasingly important to our commercial clients by allowing them to deliver properties that are attractive to tenants and allow the flexibility to extend the useful life of a building for maximum return on investment. Our holistic approach takes into account the whole life-cycle of the building, from the earliest design stages through construction and operation to demolition, and we can advise clients on achieving high scores under relevant assessment schemes such as BREEAM and LEED.

During the design process we routinely seek to identify opportunities to reuse existing materials or incorporate recycled and/or locally sourced materials into structures. We use carbon and energy assessment tools to calculate the embodied carbon for all structural options, and we advise on ways to reduce construction waste through material selection and construction methods. For Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, WSP implemented an innovative on-site waste sorting system which resulted in 96% of waste being diverted from landfill (exceeding the target of 80%), while also reducing traffic movements for removal of waste from the site.

We are leaders in the structural design of high-rise buildings, with a portfolio of iconic towers including One World Trade Center and The Shard. We are now delivering a new generation of super-slender high rise residential developments with buildings such as 432 Park Avenue, the exceptionally slim, 426m high residential, hotel and commercial tower in New York, currently the tallest residential building gracing city skylines in the western hemisphere. These slender buildings help developers make the most of limited real estate in urban areas and to capitalize on small and constricted sites to create highly desirable residences with magnificent views and high market values.

Our Structural Engineering Consultancy Services

We deliver all kinds of building projects from the earliest planning stages through to operation, in roles ranging from lead consultant to specialist services provider. Our core structural services include structural design, engineering for high wind and seismic environments, peer review and value engineering, forensic engineering and structural investigations, building renovations and alterations, blast resistant design, construction inspection, 3D visualization, and building information modeling (BIM) and steel detailing.

Enduring Relationships with the World’s Top Clients and Architects

WSP is proud to have built enduring relationships with some of the world’s top developers and signature architects, for whom we are delivering exciting and complex schemes across the globe. We apply our depth of international experience obtained over many years to the thinking process that precedes construction, providing valuable contributions from the outset to achieve our clients’ and architects’ aspirations, while responding to the constraints of the project and the local market.

Thanks to our integrated and flexible global structure, our clients benefit from close, long-term relationships with local delivery teams who understand the challenges they face, backed by a global network of specialists. This allows us to deliver the most innovative solutions to every project, along with the highest levels of experience, technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of local cultures, practices, standards and regulations.

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