In 2023 the initiative was co-chaired by Marika Gabbianelli, Structural Engineer and Net Zero Consultant at WSP and Gary Elliott, Elliot Wood’s Founder and Chief Executive.

Last year’s summit, hosted at the Institution of Structural Engineer’s headquarters, successfully brought together over 250 participants. The summit provided insights, discussions and initiatives to guide the industry towards more mindful, sustainable and regenerative approaches in structural engineering. It focused on how commitments can and have been translated into tangible actions which participants could take back to their business and implement.

Speakers covered topics crucial to addressing key challenges in the industry – such as reuse of existing structures, low-carbon materials, biodiversity and systems thinking. The recurring themes highlighted the importance of changing mindsets and looking beyond one’s immediate project or supply chain to avoid single minded approaches that prioritise the ‘sustainability performance’ of an individual project over the bigger picture.

In 2024 we will focus on spreading awareness about regenerative design and develop initiatives to help implement these principles on projects. To support the industry transition away from damaging business-as-usual practices, we will encourage our design teams and clients to look beyond carbon reduction by considering the impact our work has along supply chains, on the natural environment and local communities.

As signatories of Structural Engineers Declare WSP in the UK has made many commitments around how we embed sustainability and decarbonisation into our standard practice. We have transformed our business in the last 4 years, focusing on reducing carbon emissions in all of our designs and advice. We made a public commitment to reduce this by 50% by 2030 and we have since measured hundreds of buildings and created a decarbonisation path for our discipline. Our engineers now fully understand and drive decarbonisation in every projects, and our PAS2080 accreditation will support this effort.

We are also pioneering on the use of AI to create better buildings that address carbon emissions holistically, bringing performance-based multi-objective optimisations to the earliest stage of the design process with tools like Daisy, a parametric design tool to revolutionise early design.

Structural Engineers Declare is not merely a declaration; it is a catalyst for change in the built environment. Marika and Gary have exemplified a commitment to practical implementation, pushing beyond the boundaries of traditional carbon reduction initiatives. As the industry evolves, 2024 beckons with the promise of regenerative design taking centre stage.

The invitation is clear: join the movement, commit to a better and more sustainable future. Embrace low-carbon solutions, circular economy principles and regenerative design to create a better tomorrow.

For more information, please visit the Structural Engineers Declare’s website: https://www.structuralengineersdeclare.com/