Infrastructure

The challenge and complexity of modern development means that many of the individual components of infrastructure planning and design are often inter-related, impacting each upon another and require an integrated approach to deliver successful solutions.

Buro Happold’s infrastructure team has expertise in urban design & regeneration, masterplanning, infrastructure development, highway & bridge design, transport planning, utility supply, sustainable drainage and waterfront development. We are therefore able to provide an integrated multi-disciplinary service and have an international reputation for delivering landmark projects in a variety of locations, settings and terrains.

Bridge engineering

Buro Happold’s bridge engineering team, made up of some of the most creative bridge engineers in the country, works on very exciting projects throughout the world that demonstrate our skills and knowledge in the design, construction and maintenance of bridges. Our bridges are invariably award winning, and whereas we are perhaps best known for our light weight iconic bridges working in collaboration with architects, we also work on highway bridges, light rail systems and link bridges connecting buildings. Our clients are varied but are predominately from the private sector.

Energy and utilities engineering

Buro Happold’s energy and utilities engineering team works closely with developers, masterplanners, planning authorities and utility providers to ‘open up’ sites by formulating both centralised and de-centralised strategies that ensure the most effective provision and integration of utility services. These services include potable water, electrical power, telecommunications, gas, community heating and cooling, drainage and vacuum waste collection.

Our delivery of energy and utilities is achieved through a combination of benchmarking & forecasting, integration with the masterplanning infrastructure, legislation & regulatory frameworks and procurement & capital expenditure planning strategies. Our solutions also have to achieve regional and national renewable and carbon mitigation targets as part of a wider sustainability ethos for the urban environment.

Geoenvironmental engineering

Buro Happold’s geoenvironmental team are experts at identifying and resolving technical issues that arise during developments affected by contaminated land and impacted groundwater. Comprehensive investigation of the soil and water environment enables us to identify potential hazards and then develop a range of appropriate remediation solutions.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Buro Happold’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) team provides support to many of the disciplines and groups on projects around the world. The team is made up of specialists from a wide variety of backgrounds enabling us to bring innovative solutions to the practice. As well as project specific analysis and spatial data management, the team also develops enterprise, corporate-wide systems for internal and external clients.

Geotechnical engineering

Buro Happold’s geotechnical engineering team identifies and implements solutions for structural foundations, basements, tunnels, retaining walls, earthworks and site remediation. With experience covering all major sectors, we carry out geotechnical investigations to inform the design process, reduce costs and help clients get the best value from existing ground conditions.

Highways

Buro Happold’s highways team has a long track record in delivering new and improved highways around the world. Projects include development-related roads and public highway improvements for local authority partners. Our engineers are responsible for detailed design of carriageways, associated drainage, lighting and traffic signals and are also involved in legal agreements, contract procurement and ultimately for the supervision and safety auditing of work undertaken by contractors.

Inclusive Design

Buro Happold’s inclusive design team is well practised in applying the principles of inclusive design in a range of building and urban development projects, from masterplanning, offices, hotels and sports stadia to retail malls and transport interchanges. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, we take into account all potential cultural and community users to provide an inclusive environment suitable for a diversity of user groups.

An inclusive environment does not attempt to meet every single need, but by considering peoples' diversity, inclusive environments can break down barriers and exclusion and will often achieve superior solutions that benefit everyone. Inclusive design extends from inception, through the planning process, detailed design, construction, occupation, management and operation of the built environment and hence relates as much to the design process as to the final product.

Infrastructure development

Buro Happold’s infrastructure development team believes that designing places for people must be all encompassing and involve not just the building structures but also the surrounding infrastructure. In order for buildings and public spaces to function and be appealing, they need to be underpinned by functional infrastructure that integrates with the public realm: getting from A to B should be smooth & seamless and as sustainable as possible.

People need to feel comfortable and at ease in their surroundings; this requires easy access to public transport, roads, car parks, services and utilities. Streets should be well lit, welcoming and clearly way-marked and most importantly accessible to all. People and infrastructure working in harmony: this is Buro Happold’s vision and the way to unlock the value in a development.

Project/design management

Project/design management is the day to day running of the entire project, using established and proven management procedures, and is therefore vital to the effective & efficient of excellent engineering projects. Project/design management separates the control & management aspect of a project from the detailed design and execution. Buro Happold’s project/design management team has to draw upon our extensive knowledge of the engineering and construction process to provide a professional service to colleagues & clients alike.

River and coastal engineering

Buro Happold’s rivers and coastal engineering team can draw on extensive proven experience in rivers and coastal engineering consultancy, design, delivery and supervision. Our projects cover a broad spectrum of water engineering projects, from fluvial flood risk assessments, analytical modelling and in-channel designs to coastal defences, waterfront strategy plans and conservation advice.

Security consulting

New infrastructure developments and regeneration projects require a security consultant that can manage the strategic overview whilst appreciating the technical detail required in realising manageable and cost effective solutions. Buro Happold’s security consulting team assists in mitigating identified security risks by developing a security strategy, together with the client, that identifies each component of the overall security programme and then ensures their integration with other disciplines to provide a comprehensive solution. Our consultants also provide post-occupancy support and advice for future security management, control and equipment requirements.

Transport planning

Buro Happold’s transport team is responsible for the planning and design of traffic and transport solutions for new developments, working with both public and private sector clients to ensure a workable development that is both safe and effective in terms of the movement of people and goods. From strategic planning of new city districts, through site specific planning & design, to the modelling of complex junctions at a very local level; our transport team offers a comprehensive range of expertise to clients in the UK and overseas.

Urban planning

Buro Happold’s urban planning team provides strategic 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.