Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and the way we communicate our designs is a crucial part of it.

Illustrations are a valuable tool for simplifying complex technical information and making it easy to understand.  That’s why our engineers are actively encouraged to sketch their solutions at an early stage of a project, showing the hierarchy of load paths within a structural system and the options available.

The unfinished feel of a sketch invites client input and architectural collaboration in a way a polished drawing doesn’t.  That early engagement unlocks improvements and innovations when they are easiest to make.

Once a design develops, we carry it into a shared BIM environment, working in 3D alongside the architect and the wider design team.  A coordinated model means clashes and conflicts are identified and resolved early, before they reach site, and everyone is working from the same, up-to-date information.

We run kick-off workshops at the start of a project so that everyone has a full understanding of the brief and the design approach.  This includes agreeing how we will share information and use the model.  The workshops also give the whole design team a chance to meet face to face.  Once people have met, they find it easier to pick up the phone or raise a question as the project progresses, which helps create a truly open and collaborative environment from day one.