The natural world is a precious resource that we squander at our peril. Growing concern for the environment has put sustainable development at the top of the social, regulatory and corporate agenda. How we can interact with the environment as a friend and not as an enemy is one of the major themes and challenges of the 21st century. Fresh thinking is required from engineers and architects to create a new harmony between the built and the natural environment.
Buro Happold is showing the way forward in designing buildings which are more ‘environmentally responsible’. Utilising advanced façade design, low energy heating and natural ventilation systems, our practical solutions balance sustainability with functionality and performance
(read more in the Buildings section). We also give co-ordinated advice on how to incorporate sustainability into the infrastructure design, in areas such as transport planning, utility supply and waste management (read more in the Infrastructure section).
Environmental assessment
Buro Happold’s Environment Group works closely with clients to advise them on key environmental issues associated with projects and identify design approaches that minimise impacts while maximising opportunities for achieving sustainable outcomes. We have an in-depth understanding of site constraints, regulatory requirements, energy planning and environmental enhancement solutions.
Geoenvironmental engineering
Buro Happold’s geoenvironmental team has extensive experience in working with contaminated land and impacted groundwater and are experts at identifying and resolving technical issues that arise on site during development. Comprehensive investigation of the soil and water environment enables us to identify potential hazards and then develop a range of appropriate remediation solutions.
Project/design management
Project management is a professional discipline which separates the management function from the design and execution aspect. We take care of the day to day running of the entire project using established and proven management procedures, drawing upon our extensive knowledge of the engineering and construction process.
Sustainability and alternative technologies
To enable clients to procure ‘environmentally responsible’ buildings our consultants work with architects and clients to establish what sustainable construction involves and how it can be incorporated into the building and infrastructure design.
Urban planning
Our urban projects group provides strategic urban planning advice for public and private sector developments and regeneration projects, drawing on our multi-disciplinary resources to create viable and robust masterplans for our clients. Our input ranges from the macro level of city-wide planning through to the micro level of individual buildings and their infrastructure.
