Sandbox from Buro Happold

Not listened to our podcast ‘Sandbox’ yet?  Here’s an interesting snippet from our latest episode, ‘Troubled Waters’ to pique your interest. 

‘Troubled Waters’ takes a deep dive into the challenges we face today around water management in the UK. Our guests discuss various ideas about what we could do to make meaningful changes to the rather shaky situation we find ourselves in currently - from potential nationwide solutions to how individuals can also make a difference. 

Following each main monthly release of ‘Sandbox’, there will be weekly FOMO5s where we will pick short, engrossing excerpts (under five minutes) as ‘quick listens’ - we know how busy everyone is! These could be anything from valuable insights, thought-provoking elements or even practical advice... 

This week’s FOMO5 picks up on a really interesting observation about how differently we in the UK view water use compared to Australia - you’ll just have to listen to find out what! 

The episode features Buro Happold water engineering experts Duncan Ker-Reid and Louise Clarke, special guest Dr. Tom McNamara, and our regular host Andy Duncan. 

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.  

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

In ‘Troubled Waters’, we look at a topic that we can all relate to, especially with the recent flooding experienced across the country and the memory of last summer’s droughts fresh in our minds. We take a ‘deep dive’ into the challenges we face today around water management in the UK.

Taking part in this episode are Buro Happold experts Duncan Ker-Reid, Technical Director, Water, and Louise Clarke, Associate, Water. Joining them we have a very special guest, Dr. Tom McNamara. Tom is a leading scientist in his field and is the founder of FreeUp - a company that enables water quality/water event monitoring and prediction.

This episode introduces you to Andy Duncan, who will be our regular host for this podcast series. Andy asks the questions that you want to hear the answers to and will help de-mystify some of the more technical terms mentioned, whilst perhaps enjoying dropping one too many puns along the way!

Listen in as our guests discuss potential nationwide solutions for our water management in the UK, and also suggest ways in which we as individuals can help in moving towards answers to this ever-increasing problem.

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.

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

There’s no doubt that technology has transformed the way we work. From open-source collaboration with the BHoM (The Buildings and Habitats object Model) and mapping buildings using spatial data in GIS, to Microsoft Teams allowing us to work effectively from home, the construction industry is embracing digitisation.

Digital technologies have revolutionised the design of the built environment. Technology is ingrained in both the processes and outcomes of our profession. But is there a danger that we rely on it too heavily? Does overuse of technology inhibit the creative process, and create barriers to true connectivity? 

Interviewer and podcast host Victoria Bentley spoke to new Buro Happold Partners Elliot Felix, Panji Grainger, Abhijeet Kulkarni, Robert Okpala, Yasmin Rehmanjee, Dr Mei Ren and Krzysztof Staszewski about their attitudes to technology. They discuss how new digital tools are transforming the way we design buildings and deliver projects for our clients. 

Can we transform offsite manufacturing with better data? Engineering design firms need to refocus on outcomes when it come to prefabrication. If we want our structures to endure and adapt to the changing world, we need to get everyone talking to each other along the supply chain, from design to manufacture to construction. In this podcast, we talk about using live data from construction sites to inform decision-making along the supply chain, aid the business case for change and investment, and most importantly, improve modular solutions in design standardization. With insight from Matthew Gough, Director of Innovation and Head of Bids at MACE, and Alain Waha and Wolf Mangledorf from Buro Happold.

Many say that MMC over-simplifies construction. It creates "cookie-cutter" buildings, which may cost less, but they also quash innovation, stifle creativity and create problems in the supply chain. Our experts don’t agree. This podcast looks at the preconceptions around industrialised design, including an in-depth look at how the supply chain can be adapted to include more modern methods of construction without sacrificing quality, diversity or aesthetics. With insight and discussion from Mark Ireland, chief engineer, technology strategy, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) alongside Buro Happold's Mike Cook, Franck Robert and Alain Waha.

Feeling a bit hot? You may need to adjust your expectations – as the world heats up, our idea of what a comfortable temperature is, is going to change. In this episode, Buro Happold’s specialists in heating and cooling discuss the fact that worldwide use of air conditioning is likely to triple by 2050, making it one of the major sources of electricity demand, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The impact of this growth on the environment is particularly concerning. However, new technology means air conditioning solutions will look very different in 30 years’ time. District cooling, passive design and ambient heat loops all have a role to play in the new, hotter, “normal”, but alongside technological solutions, we also have to look at our behaviour, and how to adjust to manage the heat. With insight from some of Buro Happold's energy team, including Lara Balazs, James Dickinson, Nick Boid and Adam Dyson.

What do we do when a building or structure just isn’t useful anymore? As technology transforms our economies and lifestyles, our urban infrastructure must evolve to adapt to changing circumstances. Railways, bridges, office blocks, ports, piers and waterways that fall into disrepair are not only a commercial risk for the owner, they are a blight on the local community.  However, these so-called stranded assets have immense potential to spark improvements to our cities. What is Buro Happold doing to regenerate and transform these assets?  Most importantly, what should our industry be doing to prevent such occurrences? Featuring Richard Ainsley, Roger Savage, Alice Shay, Cristobal Correa and Craig Schwitter.

The architecture, engineering and construction industry is not using data to its full advantage. How can we ease the “fear” of data in facilities managers and contractors? This discussion brings in tech experts alongside Buro Happold's engineers to examine why data is not being used fully across all the stages of a project. What are the barriers that stop clients and engineers embracing data at every stage, from planning to post-construction? What else can we do to help clients understand the business benefits and value augmentation that data brings? Eduardo Bayod, head of London office at Fide Partners and Steven Wood, senior commercial manager at Digital Catapult join Buro Happold colleagues Irfan Soneji, Tom Hopton and Phil Proctor in finding some answers.