Sandbox from Buro Happold

What could the future of forensic engineering and building safety look like?

In the latest episode of our Sandbox podcast, ‘What’s the Crack? Investigating buildings through structural forensics,’ our panel looks ahead to 2046 and explores how structural forensics could evolve over the next two decades. 

The conversation covers the growing role of AI, supporting legislation, data analysis, and structural health monitoring, as well as the importance of better digital records.  

As buildings become more complex, climate conditions shift and expectations around safety increase, structural forensics will remain essential to understanding what has gone wrong and helping to prevent it from happening again. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan, are Buro Happold experts Julian McFarland, Director, and Jan Anil, Associate Director, and special guest Emily Clift, Legal Director, Kennedy’s Law.  

Discover what the future could look like by listening to this week’s episode. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.        

How does the Building Safety Act support forensic engineers in creating more resilient buildings? 

The Building Safety Act 2022 shapes how structural performance is thought about across the full life of a building, not just at design and construction, but long after completion. 

As discussed in the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, the Building Safety Act responds to a long‑standing need for greater clarity around responsibility and building safety information. 

“I think a lot of people in the industry thought it was time for some more clarity about responsibility and who is responsible for keeping information in relation to building safety - and that has been parachuted by the Building Safety Act.” - Emily Clift, Legal Director, Kennedy’s Law

For structural and forensic engineers, this supports more robust investigation of existing buildings, helping to understand how structures have performed over time, identify underlying issues, and inform safer, more resilient outcomes. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan, are Buro Happold experts Julian McFarland, Director, Jan Anil, Associate Director, and special guest Emily Clift, Legal Director, Kennedy’s Law.  

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.       

When a building raises questions, structural forensics helps uncover the answers. 

Unlike traditional structural engineering, structural forensics looks back by examining existing buildings to understand what went wrong, why it happened, and what needs to change moving forward to ensure the resilience of a building. 

In this week’s Sandbox FOMO5, taken from our latest episode ‘What’s the crack? Investigating Structural Forensics’, our guests define what forensic engineering is, and explore: 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan, are Buro Happold experts Julian McFarland, Director, and Jan Anil, Associate Director, and special guest Emily Clift, Legal Director, Kennedy’s Law.  

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.       

How does Structural Forensics ‘crack the case’ on our buildings? 

Forensic engineering might sound like something out of CSI but in reality, it is a vital discipline keeping our buildings safe, resilient, and fit for the future. 

In the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, we explore how engineers analyse buildings: investigating cracks, hidden defects, and design decisions to understand how structures really behave over time.  

This episode dives into: 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan, are Buro Happold experts Julian McFarland, Director, and Jan Anil, Associate Director, and special guest Emily Clift, Legal Director, Kennedy’s Law.  

Buildings are talking to us all the time. Structural forensics helps us listen - and respond smarter. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.     

How does ESG leave a lasting legacy?  

In our latest Sandbox FOMO5 short, taken from our latest podcast episode, ‘ESG: Beyond the Buzzwords’, our experts explore how ESG moves from ambition to action, and what it really takes to create impact that lasts beyond individual projects.  

From setting portfolio-wide standards, to embedding ESG into design, procurement and company culture, this episode gets practical about what ‘ESG in action’ really means. 

“We are working with a company for a limited amount of time, but we have to leave a legacy. That means changing people, culture and policies so it carries on delivering the E’s, the S’s and the G’s when we have left." - Trevor Keeling, Director, Buro Happold.  

Joined by host Andy Duncan, Trevor Keeling, Bianca Laura Latini and Richard Twinn share real-world examples of how resilient ESG frameworks are built. 

If you want to understand how ESG is embedded, not just discussed, this episode is worth a listen... 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.         

What really counts when it comes to measuring the ‘S’ in ESG? 

In this week’s FOMO5, taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ podcast episode, ‘ESG Beyond the Buzzwords,’ Bianca Laura Latini, Associate Director, Buro Happold, breaks down what meaningful social impact measurement should look like in practice.

As she puts it: “You are talking about complex things like community impact, individual health, mental health and wellbeing… 

“We are particularly talking about decisions that impact people and the environment that they exist in.” 

Listen to the full episode for insights on: 

Bianca is joined by our regular host Andy Duncan and colleagues Trevor Keeling, Director, and Richard Twinn, Associate Director, Buro Happold.  

For all the insights, listen to this week’s short episode.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.         

Think You Know ESG? Our experts break it down.  

ESG is everywhere, but what does it actually mean for your organisation, your projects, and the decisions being made behind the scenes? 

In our latest podcast episode, ‘ESG Beyond the Buzzwords: Inside the decisions shaping our lives’, Buro Happold experts break down what ESG really looks like in practice - beyond headlines and high-level policy. 

In this week’s short FOMO5 episode, taken from the full discussion, Richard Twinn, Associate Director at Buro Happold, explains how ESG has evolved from Corporate Social Responsibility: 

“Businesses are being required to report against some of these ESG frameworks as part of their annual reporting, and this is mainly talking about the disclosure side and the investment side… but how that actually gets implemented in practice on projects - that’s where the really interesting stuff lies.” 

Richard is joined by our regular host Andy Duncan and colleagues Trevor Keeling and Bianca Laura Latini. 

If you want to understand ESG in a way that genuinely helps you make better decisions, this episode is worth a listen.  

Keep an ‘ear’ out for next week’s FOMO5, where our experts dive deeper into how we measure the ‘S’ in ESG. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.        

What if three letters were quietly influencing the decisions that shape your daily life without you even realising it? 

ESG. We hear this ‘buzzword’ everywhere - but do we really understand what it means, why it matters, and how it is transforming the built environment? 

In the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, host Andy Duncan is joined by Buro Happold experts - Trevor Keeling, Bianca Laura Latini, and Richard Twinn - to strip ESG back to its foundations and explore what it actually looks like in practice. 

Tune into discover:  

Whether you are working in the ESG space or simply interested in how our built environment shapes how we live, this episode is full of sharp insights and practical takeaways. 

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.       

How does infrastructure investment shape lives and communities? Find out why future-focused planning matters in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 episode... 

When it comes to our infrastructure systems in the UK, focusing on the short-term can often lead to more extensive long-term costs. From potholes and power outages to rail disruptions and water shortages, under-investment impacts everyone.  

As climate risks and societal demands grow, the need for proactive infrastructure planning has never been greater. Infrastructure innovation isn’t just about engineering - it’s about resilience, wellbeing, and quality of life. 

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan are Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.   

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.     

Building for Resilience: How can our UK infrastructure be future-proofed against a changing climate? Find out more in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 episode... 

The UK has seen a rise in extreme weather. Storms that were once ‘one-in-20-year' events now happen annually, while flooding and heatwaves dominate headlines. These events are no longer rare and our critical systems are under stress like never before. 

Resilience and climate goals are intertwined. Without robust infrastructure, carbon reduction efforts stall, and nature-based solutions fail. The cost of inaction isn’t just financial - it is environmental and societal. From re-defining design standards to integrating solutions across sectors, there is much that can be done to overcome these challenges.  

This topic is discussed in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5, taken from our latest podcast episode, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’.  

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan are Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.   

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.