Contact
Our specialists work closely with clients, architects, contractors and the wider design team to develop efficient, buildable structural solutions.
Working across a wide range of building types and structural forms, we combine practical engineering experience with a clear understanding of the commercial and construction requirements of each project. We identify structural opportunities and constraints early, helping clients make informed decisions before they become costly changes later in the project.
Why Choose Brookbanks for Structural Engineering
Our specialists have extensive experience in steel, concrete, masonry and timber structures, together with foundations, basements and existing building assessments. That breadth lets us choose the structural approach that genuinely suits each project.
We approach every project with an open mind about the form of construction, considering buildability, cost, programme, sustainability and long-term maintenance from the outset. Choosing the right structural form and materials is one of the most effective ways to reduce embodied carbon and waste.
Projects of every size benefit from this approach, from a single house type assessment or condition report to the structural design of major developments.
Key Client Benefits
- We identify structural constraints, risks and opportunities early, before they become costly changes.
- We develop efficient solutions that balance structural performance, cost and buildability.
- We provide practical engineering advice that supports design and construction decisions.
- We bring experienced coordination with architects, contractors and other consultants.
- We look for value enhancement in every structural decision, from frame choices that speed up construction and reduce embodied carbon to layouts that add usable space.
Specialist Services
Feasibility, Concept and Detailed Design
Early structural advice establishes how a project can be successfully built. Through structural feasibility and concept design, we look at structural form, spans, grids, floor systems, stability and foundations, helping the design team understand the options, constraints and likely costs from the outset.
From there, our detailed structural design and calculations take the scheme through to construction. This includes structural analysis, calculations, drawings, specifications and schedules, developed to suit the project and meet the relevant standards and Building Regulations.
Structures and Foundations
We design steel, reinforced concrete, masonry and timber structures, including combinations of different materials. Working with the architectural design, our specialists develop practical structural solutions that can be built efficiently.
Foundation, piled and basement design responds to the building, the ground conditions and the constraints of the site. Our designs cover traditional foundations, ground beams, piles, basement structures, retaining walls and associated structural elements.
See how our specialists redesigned the concrete frame at Millwright’s Place in Bristol.
Existing Buildings, Conversions and Strengthening
Understanding the condition and structural capacity of an existing building is the starting point for any change. Our specialists undertake existing building surveys and structural assessments, investigate defects and provide advice on repairs, alterations, additional loads and proposed changes to the building.
For extensions, conversions, refurbishments and changes of use, we provide the structural design needed to adapt the existing structure. This can include removing walls, forming openings, strengthening floors and roofs and supporting new loads.
See how our specialists reused and extended the concrete structure of the former Magistrates Court in Richmond.
Building Safety and Regulatory Support
Buildings must be designed so that damage to one part does not lead to a collapse out of proportion to its cause. Our structural robustness and disproportionate collapse service designs and assesses structures to meet these requirements, developing appropriate solutions for tying, key elements and alternative load paths based on the building type and risk.
We also provide structural engineering support for Building Regulations and Building Safety Regulator (BSR) submissions, including for higher-risk buildings. Our specialists provide the structural information and technical responses needed through the approval process, and we prepare building safety reports for existing buildings.
Read our perspective on transfer slabs and the Building Safety Regulator.
Due Diligence, Value Engineering and Buildability
Independent structural due diligence and technical reviews give clients confidence before they commit to a project or to construction. We review structural designs, reports and proposals, identifying potential risks, design issues and cost implications.
Through value engineering and buildability reviews, we look at how a structure can be simplified, reduced in cost or made easier to build. Reviewing structural options, materials, foundations and construction methods, our specialists find practical alternatives without compromising the design.
BIM Coordination and Construction Support
We produce structural models, drawings and information using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to support coordinated project delivery. Working closely with architects, contractors and other consultants, we resolve clashes and provide clear, buildable construction information.
Our construction stage support and technical advice continues throughout the build, from responding to technical queries and contractor proposals to dealing with design changes and unexpected site conditions. This practical support helps keep projects moving.
Sectors We Support
Our structural engineering experience covers residential and mixed-use developments, industrial projects, infrastructure, commercial projects, education, healthcare and high-rise buildings.
We also support complex refurbishment and conversion schemes, where the reuse of existing structures calls for careful assessment and practical design.
Talk to Our Structural Engineering Specialists
If you are testing the feasibility of a new building, adapting an existing one or need practical advice on site, contact a member of our structural engineering team directly or email hello@brookbanks.com and one of our experts will get back to you.
Related insights
FAQs
At what stage should a structural engineer be involved?
Ideally at feasibility and concept stage. Early structural input on form, grids, spans and foundations helps the design team understand options and likely costs before the layout is fixed, and avoids costly changes later. We can also support projects that are already in detailed design or on site.
Can you assess an existing building for conversion or change of use?
Yes. We survey existing buildings, assess their condition and structural capacity, and design the alterations and strengthening needed for extensions, conversions, refurbishments and changes of use.
Do you support higher-risk buildings and Building Safety Regulator submissions?
Yes. We provide the structural information and technical responses needed for Building Regulations and Building Safety Regulator submissions on higher-risk buildings. We also prepare building safety reports for existing buildings.
Do you take on smaller structural commissions?
Yes. Alongside the structural design of major developments, we regularly provide focused services such as structural condition reports, house type assessments and site visits by a structural engineer.