Our_Services
We provide a full range of structural engineering design services to support your project from inception to completion.
Structural
Appraisals
In addition to the full range of existing engineering design services we undertake appraisals of existing buildings.
Understanding your site is the first and most important step in any future development.
We work with a number of specialist consultants to help you better understand your building and the possibilities for adaptation and development.
Civil & Geotechnical Engineering
Plan B offers a full range of civil and geotechnical engineering services, taking your project from feasibility through detailed design and construction.
From master planning advice to public realm interventions and the spaces between buildings, we create places and spaces for people to use and enjoy.
Digital
Engineering
At Plan B we are passionate about digital engineering and see it as the catalyst to help drive efficiency in the construction industry. Using 3D technology, we bring structural and civil works to life in the digital world.
Our expertise covers modelling small intricate details, to producing large site models fully coordinated with the rest of the design team to be used in a BIM compliant federated model.
Circular Economy Assessments
We need to reuse materials we already have rather than demolishing buildings and downcycling materials. Keeping a building element in its highest form and re-using it in that format for as long as possible is key to establishing a Circular Economy within the built environment.
Plan B can offer advice on applying Circular Economy principles to a project, including reviewing potential opportunities before a development is even planned. The earlier we get involved the greater impact we can have.
Historic
Engineering
Plan_B have extensive experience in the refurbishment of both listed and non-listed buildings. CARE accreditation enables us to support applications for alterations to listed buildings.
The redevelopment of heritage buildings brings major challenges, but also great opportunities.
We must protect their fabric and maintain their usefulness in the face of an ever-changing world, unlocking their potential for future generation to enjoy. Interventions must be sensitive and strategic, whilst avoiding any intrusive or unnecessary alterations.
Estimating
Carbon
We are living in a climate emergency and minimising carbon in construction is critical to the future of the planet and future generations. At Plan_B we measure embodied carbon in all our designs using industry approved tools to help us make better decisions. We track carbon as a design develops to ensure we are retaining the low carbon design intent.
Plan_B are at the forefront of sustainable design and always happy to pursue new technologies to provide lower carbon options. We welcome R&D and collaboration opportunities to further push the boundaries of sustainable construction.
Our_Sectors
Heritage & Refurbishment
In today’s society, surrounded by progress and development, buildings are important assets that should be appreciated and retained wherever practicable. Plan B have extensive experience in the refurbishment of both listed and non-listed buildings. We provide a complete conservation accredited service (CARE accredited) on projects ranging from large-scale transformations to small domestic alterations.
The redevelopment of heritage buildings brings major challenges, but also great opportunities. By gaining a thorough understanding, and working with the grain of the building, we evolve and adapt buildings to their new requirements. We use sensitive and strategic interventions to protect the fabric of buildings and maintain their usefulness to transform buildings that are fit for now, and the future.
Hotels & Leisure
Plan B has extensive experience across the hotels and hospitality sector, and particular expertise with listed buildings and refurbishments. Whether by location, form, or just pure interest and beauty, many ageing buildings lend themselves perfectly to hotels. To make this transition requires the exacting requirements of a hotel development to be met with exacting engineering.
We offer a creative, practical and pragmatic approach that has been honed across our collective project experience within the sector. We know that maintaining revenue and protecting the customer experience is critical to the successful delivery of any upgrade project, and our team has vast experience working within operational facilities providing engineering solutions that reduce disruption whilst offering exceptional engineering.
Education
When designing for a development on an operational campus, timing is crucial, and as such we work with project stakeholders to derive designs that are tailored to align with the academic calendar. Our team have extensive experience in both the technical design and construction/operational interfaces required to overcome programme constraints. Having worked on prestigious projects in, and for; Oxford, Cambridge, King’s College London, Royal Holloway, and the University of Westminster, our engineers understand that the mitigation of disruption is crucial, both to the academia, and student experience.
Our team understand the importance of education, and that the developments we design should inspire future generations. We remain engaged with, and have led various education and industry experience outreach programmes with Open City, RIBA, and Urban Learners. We undertake structural tutorials at the Civil & Structural Engineering department at the University of Sheffield and at the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes.
Commercial
Whether a new build or transforming an existing building, we take the same diligent, thorough and expert approach. Our engineers have extensive experience in both the transformation of existing properties, and in designing new landmark commercial spaces, ready to attract the very best in rental values. Whether that is by engineering a new building, or working with the existing building to add floors, above or below, to increase the square footage, or extending the floor plates, our engineers have the skills and experience.
Buildings are valuable assets, and through good design they can be transformed to meet future requirements. We do this by gaining a thorough understanding of the building, and by working with it, adapting it to its new requirements. Where we have to demolish and rebuild, we ensure that the design for the structural frame is efficient, flexible and complete. Our projects are fully coordinated, produced in 3D, and de-risked to ensure a predictable and cost-effective procurement.
Residential
Whether creating large-scale new build developments, converting under-utilised commercial space or single developments, Plan B know how to create homes.
By integrating intelligent infrastructure, design quality, and efficient use of resources, we reduce the number of components, or introduce offsite modular designs, to maximise efficiency. We make structures work seamlessly alongside the architecture and room configurations, so every pound invested is appreciated. We do this whilst ensuring that designs are instilled with individuality, and the character of the developer’s brand.
For those contemplating works to private residential properties we have further guidance here.
