PAul Westbury

Paul Westbury

Born 1969. Following a degree from Cambridge University, where he was an enthusiastic member of the Jesus College sports scene, Paul commenced on Buro Happold's trainee engineer programme in 1991. Paul was created a partner of Buro Happold in May 2000, at the age of just 30, making him the company's youngest partner. A chartered structural engineer, Paul's achievements since joining Buro Happold have been notable, building up and leading the "Special Structures" group and contributing to some of the practice's most eye-catching and innovative work.

Academically gifted, he lost no time in turning his considerable intellect to the challenge of design. Perhaps Paul's greatest strength is his ability to analyze a problem from first principles, appreciating the fundamental properties of construction materials - whether they be steel, glass, concrete, fabric or indeed cardboard or carbon fibre - and intuitively understanding how individual elements behave in combination in a structural solution. This elemental perception gives him the confidence to propose unconventional solutions that are more elegant and economic than the conventional norms.

Such design flair has been given full expression within the Special Structures group. Paul was instrumental in establishing this group, perceiving the need for a team of innovative engineers to tackle unusual and challenging design problems - a wind tunnel facility for Formula 1 race cars, exhibition canopies, atrium glazing systems, longspan enclosures and many others - and has overseen its growth from a team of five to a dynamic and creative crew of twenty. His laid-back attitude combined with an intense commitment to the job in hand make him a popular manager and sought-after project leader. Initially working within the tensile structures workgroup, Paul was involved in a number of distinctive fabric structures and a years secondment to FTL-Happold in New York saw him pursue an interest in demountable buildings, resulting in the publication of a number of technical papers. Following his return to the UK and the establishment of the Special Structures Group, Paul has continued to explore the boundaries of structural engineering with a wide variety of international customers & clients.

Projects include: Fabric canopies such as the Teachers Stand at Bath Rugby Club, Bath; Ashford Retail Park, Ashford; innovative cardboard structures such as the Japanese Pavilion at Hanover 2000; the complex concrete shells at Stuttgart station; intricate structural glazing issues or the huge challenge of the cable net structure for the Millennium Dome, Greenwich. He is leading the BH sport team and is currently working on stadium structures for Corinthians FC, Sao Paolo and Arsenal FC, London.

Designing Structures for Clients' Needs

Paul Westbury will provide an insight into the development of a project throughout its design process, and in particular with respect to the direct needs of the client. He will also introduce some of the plans for the Lower Lea Valley redevelopment programme on which he has been working.