The adage that ‘change is the only constant in life’ is certainly true for buildings. Rarely static for long, what starts as office space may later become residential, retail can turn into workspace, and industrial units may evolve into mixed-use developments. Even if a building has a single use throughout its lifecycle, its layouts and occupancy patterns will shift over time.

In the latest instalment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, we speak to Ben Proctor, Senior Engineer at Bailiss & Co, about engineering with purpose - and the satisfaction of seeing ideas take physical shape.

For many engineers, the most rewarding part of the job isn’t found on a spreadsheet or in a set of drawings - it’s standing on site, watching an idea take physical shape. For Ben, who joined the team at the start of this year, that sense of achievement is what drew him to structural engineering, and what continues to motivate his work.

Planning has never been more complex. Between tightening sustainability requirements, growing scrutiny on design quality and increased regulatory pressure, securing consent has become harder, slower and more expensive. For architects and developers, every application can feel like an exercise in risk management.

And yet, one powerful tool for improving planning outcomes is often the least utilised: early structural engineering input.

Using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) as an alternative to - or alongside - traditional methods is increasingly being adopted by estate owners as a way to accelerate delivery, boost efficiency and reduce waste and carbon emissions. Manufacturing or assembling elements of the build off site, under factory conditions, can increase quality control, provide more predictability in terms of cost and build schedule, and minimise on site disruption.

In the second part of our ‘Meet the team’ series, Matt Branfield, Engineer at Bailiss & Co, talks about what inspired him to pursue a career in engineering and why curiosity and collaboration provide the foundation for delivering successful projects.

Retaining and reusing existing buildings is a central pillar of every credible decarbonisation strategy. But while the environmental argument is clear, the practical reality is complex. Determining whether a structure can be reused - and how far it can be adapted - is where sustainability moves from aspiration to execution. That decision point arrives much earlier than most clients realise, as John Bailiss, Founder of Bailiss & Co explains: “By the time you’ve fixed a brief, drawn elevations and costed the scheme, the moment of truth has already passed,” he says. “Retrofit success is decided in those first few weeks, when you discover what the building really is.”

Every project is under pressure. Costs are up, regulations are tightening, and expectations are higher than ever. Developers and architects are trying to deliver more - more performance, more sustainability, more transparency - but often with less time and on tighter budgets.

In the first of our new ‘meet the team’ series, John Bailiss, founder of Bailiss & Co., explains why the phrase ‘honest but ambitious engineering’ has shaped how he leads projects, works with clients, and plans for the firm’s future.

Every project starts with ambition – a vision of what the finished building could and should be. But between the first spark of inspiration and the delivery of a completed project, countless decisions shape the outcome. The most important of these are the ones made right at the start.

When people ask what a structural engineer actually does, it can be quite hard to explain.

Frequently used tropes include those of beam designer, keeper of complicated calculations, or an analogy involving a skeleton. There is truth in all of these, but whilst they get to some of the core tenets of what we do, they only represent about half the job.

ST Saviours wins planning permission for a considered front extension and re-work.

AJ Small Projects Award 2025 Win for Lewisham Loggias!

When people know I'm a structural engineer, they often ask my opinion on a potential new home or improvements to their existing one…..

Really wonderful to see our scheme at Tottenham Court Road, in use and in print…

Director, John Bailiss, was recently asked to share his thoughts on remote recruitment best practice…

The more we can prove the value of an existing structure or reuse of a building – the less new build we need…

Gransden Road - OPEN HOUSE - 9th September 2023

Performance artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich's first UK museum solo presentation opens at @designmuseum in London September 26 (will run until Oct 29)

Planning permission has now been achieved to expand the teaching and learning facilities of St David’s Prep in West Wickham.

It’s exciting to get a great scheme on site.