SPAN

Once upon a time in a land far away, Genevieve awoke from a lovely slumber in her wooden house. Although it was the dead of Winter, she had no need for central heating, thanks to the mycelium insulation between her wooden floors and walls. She gazed happily out of her wooden window (yes, her wooden window) at the suspension bridge constructed by millions of spiders which freely spanned 4km over the river beyond. She flung open the window with gaiety and took a great lungful of the crisp Winter air, which was completely absent of any harmful substances thanks to the photocatalytic 'air-purifying' paint which coated her house in a brilliant white to match the snow below...

Who said that 'once upon a time' had to refer to a time in the past...?

Known for his work on bridges across the French railway network, Gustave Eiffel was a world-renowned engineer. Though trained in chemical engineering, his true legacy lies in the iconic structures he built—including a certain tower in Paris you’ve definitely heard of.

In this episode, we explore Eiffel’s contributions to the Statue of Liberty, his pioneering research in aerodynamics and meteorology, and the surprising backlash his famous tower initially received. Don’t miss Ellie’s dramatic reading of those scathing early reviews—if you can keep a straight face!

Happy listening!

How do you pronounce 'regenerative'? Don't ask Ellie, but at least she can tell you that 'regenerative design' takes inspiration from how living systems have evolved over time to thrive on our planet. And this is exactly what the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) characterises; this is a climate-positive agriculture school designed by MASS Design Group and Arup. With multiple social, economic and environmental traits, it is no wonder why ISTRUCTE gave RICA the award for 'holistic regenerative design advancing the use of low-carbon, locally sourced materials, and promoting local training and benefits'...

Happy Listening!

As brilliant as concrete is, it has its pitfalls. Several defects can occur in concrete depending on the constituent materials and their chemical interactions. Others can arise because of the interaction of concrete with its surrounding environment. In this episode, we talk about concrete cancer, alkali aggregate reactions, and an infamous cement mix that initially gives you strong concrete but later converts to weaker concrete (concerning… yes).

Does creep in concrete compare to bread becoming stale? Listen on for Ellie’s reasoning. 

Happy listening, and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]

What do concrete and bread have in common? Yes it is another concrete episode but don't dismiss it just yet! This time we delve into the wonderful and complex world of concrete chemistry and material science.

Much like bread, the various constituent materials in concrete each play a crucial role in achieving desired strength, durability, and workability. The curing (baking) of concrete also requires careful consideration of temperature and available water to ensure complete hydration of cement. What is hydration of cement? Why is it important and how does it relate to concrete strength? Find out in this episode!

Happy listening, and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]

A building structure doesn't simply exist; once it is built it requires upkeep and materials for repair, just as a plant requires pruning and nutrients. Unfortunately, the maintenance or reuse of a 30-year-old building seems incredibly dull when compared to a flashy new skyscraper.

With an increasing emphasis on 'build nothing', and design for deconstruction, this attitude is slowly beginning to change. Today, Janet and Ellie examine what exactly maintenance involves, and how ideas such as 'material passports' could elevate the building industry; after all, 'one man's trash is another man's treasure'...

If a batch of muffins 'may contain traces of nuts' but you have to use your epipen pen after the first bite, do you continue to eat the remaining muffins? If somebody had said to you 'thismuffin is wrong', would you have tucked in? 

Now imagine that muffin represented a bridge.

The Polcevera Viaduct (aka Ponte Morandi) in Genoa is one of the most fatal cases of structural failure in the 21st century. Designed by Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, its unprecedented prestressed concrete cable-stayed design featured only four stays from each tower... Ever heard of the term 'redundancy', Morandi?

 This major design flaw was blatant to structural engineers, one of whom warned 'that bridge is wrong. Sooner or later it will have to be replaced'... Two years later, his warning was laid catastrophically bare.

How confident would you feel crossing one of Morandi's other almost identical bridges...?

Have any suggestions for future episodes? Please send any comments to [email protected]

Spanning long distances without internal supports is a challenge encountered in many structures. Think of sports centres, exhibition halls, malls, airports, train stations etc. What options does the structural engineer have when faced with such a challenge? In this episode, we discuss a few such options like cable structures and diagrids used in the Munich Olympic Stadium roof and London King’s Cross Station roof respectively. 

Happy listening and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]

It is February, yes, but we did want to round up some of the construction projects either completed in 2024 or still ongoing. From London’s super sewer to an iconic airport upgrade in Oregon, and the only permanent venue constructed for the Paris 2024 Olympics, we delve into what 2024 looked like for the construction industry. It is by no means an exhaustive list but will give insight into what is being built and where!

Happy listening and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]

Hello listeners, apologies for the long delay in releasing our favourite episode to date: An Interview With Alison Cox!

If you are contemplating a career in construction, or wonder what it's like to be a female in a traditionally male sector, then wonder no more. Alison Cox is a leading female in construction, having worked for prominent contracting firms and on famous structures.

We learned a lot from our discussion with her, and anticipate you will too... Happy listening!