When it comes to engineering, what happens below the surface is as important as what’s built on top. Every site has a unique history and set of properties which will determine the design of the proposed structure, the materials used and even the programme sequence. This history can become especially complex when working on brownfield sites or in urban or industrial areas. The presence of previous structures and proximity to industrial activity increases the risk of contaminated ground which must be assessed and dealt with before construction can continue.

The final beam was placed on The Royal Greenwich Trust School on Wednesday 21 January in a commemorative topping out ceremony, to mark the completion of the school’s new extension. The multi million pound project will enable the school – which was founded in 2016 – to accommodate a higher number of students, and make way for brand new facilities. These include a drama and dance studio, atrium, sports hall, science labs and additional classrooms. We were appointed as Civil & Structural engineers on the project, overcoming a number of challenges, largely in part due to the site’s limited accessibility issues and historic development.

It’s been a very busy year at Lyons O’Neill: we’ve completed and embarked on an array of exciting new projects, we’ve seen our team grow and we’ve won industry recognition with a number of awards and commendations.

We are very pleased to announce that the Lyons O’Neill team has grown this year. Anna Bergman joined as as a Project Structural Engineer back in May, bringing with her years of valuable experience and industry knowledge. And as part of our Meet the Engineer series, we spoke to Anna to discuss life as an engineer. Including what first attracted her to the profession, what she enjoys most, and what advice she’d offer to other young women thinking of pursuing the career.

A successful project isn’t just about a stunning end result or fulfilling a client’s brief – it’s about the whole design and construction process. In any project, the relationship between the parties involved, how issues are navigated and the communication flow is as important as the bricks and mortar. Indeed, if any of these areas are lacking, the quality of the end product will suffer.

We’re delighted to introduce our new Project Spotlight series, which will showcase the projects we’re currently working on and the engineering techniques involved.

In our first Project Spotlight we’ll be looking at our work at Reef Way SEMH School in Hailsham. This project involved a number of challenges but these were successfully navigated through the use of intelligent engineering solutions. Read on to find out more about the project, the factors involved and how our pre-planning services assisted construction.

In just 15 days, Lyons O’Neill’s Senior Structural Engineer James Protherough will be embarking on a 3000 mile row across the Atlantic to help combat plastic pollution. The row is part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which will see 30 teams battle the elements in competition for the coveted prize. James will be joined by school friends Ewan, Ed and Jon to form the team Atlantic Ambition, who are hoping to beat a record time of 37 days and 9 hours! In anticipation of the row, we sat down with James to discuss his preparations and motivations for the challenge.

Surface water provides unique challenges on many construction sites. When flat, impermeable materials are used in and around buildings, there is less space for natural infiltration, and excess surface water must be smartly managed to avoid flooding and pollution. With these challenges come the need for specialist engineer involvement at all stages of a project especially at the pre-planning stage.

In a large number of our own projects, we’ve been able to factor sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) into complex building sites from the very beginning of the design stage. These drainage systems ensure surface water is managed in a controlled matter and directed to where it won’t negatively impact both the client and the surrounding environment.