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| Our Practice |
Alan Bothamley has extensive experience in the successful repair and renovation of existing buildings, many of which have historical importance. He is able to combine modern engineering techniques with an appreciation of the construction practices of yesteryear to produce sound and sensible structural engineering solutions for the repair to all kinds of buildings.
He works both for public and private sector clients. His expertise is not just in the alteration and repair of existing buildings but also in the structural design of new buildings. His project portfolio includes housing, schools, commercial buildings, industrial developments, art facilities, entertainment complexes and sports centres.
He also has considerable experience of reporting procedures for buildings within the public sector, commercial and industrial buildings, and for clients purchasing domestic buildings.
The practice has the resources if necessary to carry out large projects with fast programmes as well as smaller works, local authority checking, structural engineering reports and feasibility studies.
All projects are controlled by Alan Bothamley. The team under him varies in size to suit the requirements of each job.
As a practice of chartered structural engineers we are closely associated with the actual building process, and consequently we have considerable experience of built projects. Our philosophy is to use this experience at the very beginning of a project, at its conception, when the building form is being decided, so that the basic ideas contain sound and sensible structural engineering proposals. The architectural principle that 'form follows function' suggests a need for simple structures which allow the easy incorporation of finishes to provide an economical and elegant building.
This simplicity can be facilitated by our early involvement. |
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Our Structural Conservation Approach
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A mix of historic buildings and structural engineers is not always seen as an ideal cocktail for success when a sympathetic approach is required to rejuvenate existing buildings. Most structural engineers see the computer and reams of calculations as the only justification for strength, stiffness and stability of buildings. In reality a common sense approach of repairing and tying existing elements of the buildings is often more sensible and much more in tune with conservation.
The key to an engineering approach to conservation and the repair of existing buildings is in understanding how a building has developed over the years; how it was originally constructed and how it was altered to allow for new uses.
In many cases as well as lack of appropriate maintenance, often buildings have generations of alterations in-built and sometimes the next alteration may be the one that triggers off problems - be it from a strength, stiffness or stability viewpoint.
Building professionals well versed in construction techniques and with an appreciation of historical construction, can be invaluable when considering the options for reusing existing buildings. Renovation is not always the easy approach, but if tackled in a controlled way, it can be cost effective. And from an environmental stance, what could be more sensible than finding a use for an existing building that has been left to decay and then repairing it to suit its new use.
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