Meet the Team: Peter Turnbull, Structural Engineer
As part of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, we’re continuing to highlight the people behind Bailiss & Co - their experience, perspectives, and the role they play in shaping our projects.
As a Structural Engineer at Bailiss & Co, Peter Turnbull contributes to a wide range of residential and commercial projects, drawing on experience gained from working within multiple sectors.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into structural engineering?
Having completed a Master’s in Civil Engineering, I worked in offshore engineering within the oil and gas sector, before moving into more traditional structural engineering in London. I then spent a number of years working across a mix of residential and commercial projects, including some time on modular construction, before joining Bailiss & Co, where I support the team with design and analysis.
What kind of projects are you typically involved in?
A lot of my work is focused on residential projects - extensions, refurbishments, and structural alterations. Alongside that, I’ve also been involved in commercial fit-outs and some education projects.
My role is usually centred around developing the design and calculations behind the scenes, supporting the wider team who manage projects day-to-day and on site.
What do you enjoy most about the work?
I enjoy projects where the architecture is doing something a bit different. Even within residential work, it’s always interesting when there’s a strong design idea behind it, making the engineering more challenging.
I also enjoy the balance between working with the team and our wider network to find a solution to a challenge, and the moments where everything is clear and you can just get on with the design. Both sides are satisfying in different ways.
Has your approach to projects changed over time?
Yes, definitely. Experience plays a big role. Over time, you start to recognise patterns - things that might seem unusual at first, but you realise you’ve come across something similar before. For example, on residential refurbishments, it’s quite common to uncover unexpected structural details once work begins on site, but experience helps you anticipate those issues and adapt quickly.
That helps you work more efficiently and also communicate more clearly with the team. There’s a kind of shared understanding that develops, which makes it easier to talk through problems and arrive at a solution.
How do Bailiss & Co collaborate as a team?
There’s a lot of communication across all projects, whether that’s discussing a potential issue or reviewing how something is progressing, it’s very much a team effort.
We also make good use of technology: detailed site photos or scans help give a much better sense of the space, and combined with conversations with the team, it means you can still make informed decisions.
Has anything influenced the way you think about design more recently?
There’s definitely been more emphasis on using less material and designing more efficiently, particularly from a sustainability point of view. For example, looking at opportunities to use timber instead of more carbon-intensive materials like concrete or masonry where possible. That shift in mindset has been a positive one.
What’s your perspective on how structural engineering might evolve in the future?
On larger projects, I think technology and automation will continue to play a bigger role, particularly in creating efficiencies and streamlining design processes.
But on smaller-scale residential work, where projects are less standardised, experience and judgement will always be really important. These projects are often more bespoke, so there’s still a need for practical understanding and problem-solving that goes beyond what software can do.
Peter’s perspective reflects a balance that runs through much of the work at Bailiss & Co. combining practical experience with a thoughtful approach to design. Whether working through complex problems or refining the detail, his contribution plays an important role in shaping projects from concept through to delivery.
Get in touch to find out more about the team, or head over to Portfolio to see some of the recent projects we’ve worked on.