Structural engineers are being called to action to address important challenges in the coming years. The value we bring lies not in repeating what we already know, but in continuously refining how we think, assess, and act.
Conferences like this remind us that progress is not about building more, but about building better — intelligently, responsibly, and with purpose.
As 2025 draws to a close, we move one year closer to the 2030 targets for reducing carbon emissions — at least 55% below 1990 levels as set by the European Commission, and 68% as targeted by the UK government.
Meanwhile, the construction industry is experiencing what we could define as the Reuse Era — or, if we are allowed to stretch definitions a bit, the Carbon Repair Age of our post-war and modernist building stock.
At the same time, we are facing the challenges of contemporary living while remaining conscious of evolving needs, shifting habits, and the environmental responsibilities that define our time.
Finally, we are also preparing for the adoption of the second-generation Eurocodes, which are scheduled for publication and national implementation by September 2027, with the withdrawal of conflicting standards by March 2028.
This new generation of Eurocodes represents today’s consolidated knowledge and mindset in structural design. One of my favourite things, is that they have now incorporated solid and clearer guidance on the analysis and assessment of existing structures, aiming to provide a common technical ground, reducing ambiguity in interpretation and application.
For structural engineers, this evolution presents a combined set of challenges: keeping pace with change, maintaining competence, and advising clients on the long-term implications of today’s design choices — decisions that will shape our built environment for at least the next half-century.
So how do we respond? By building awareness, sharing knowledge, learning from real-world examples, and developing our engineering judgment.
These are the reasons I wholeheartedly recommended attending the Managing existing buildings conference by IStructE.
The conference focussed on three key themes that perfectly capture the spirit of our industry’s current challenges:
1. Structural appraisal and lifecycle management
The programme began with the need to understand existing structures in depth — not only their geometry but also their material properties, degradation mechanisms, and durability. This knowledge underpins accurate lifecycle assessments, enabling engineers to balance risks with opportunities and align client expectations with genuine structural capacity, ensuring value without unnecessary intervention.
2. Digital innovation and the role of AI
The second theme explored how digital tools and AI are transforming structural monitoring and maintenance. From smartphone-based computer vision to AI “digital custodians,” technology offers new ways to extend service life and make informed, risk-based decisions. Yet, these tools are only as effective as the questions we ask and the data we trust. Engineers must understand what is truly being measured and ensure transparency, reliability, and accountability in digital practice.
3. Transformative reuse and adaptation
Finally, the conference showcased practical examples of how structural engineering expertise can redefine the future of existing buildings. Highlights included the vertical extension of a London office achieved through coordinated structural–geotechnical design, the transformation of a century-old factory for electric vehicle production, and the conversion of a 1980s office tower into a high-end residential high-risk building.
Across these sessions ran a common thread: engineers combining deep technical knowledge with creativity to extend the service life of our built assets, adapted to new demands, and deliver safe, durable, and sustainable reuse.
The end
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Anna is a Chartered Structural Engineer working at BG&E with eight years of experience in adaptive reuse, seismic retrofit, and complex refurbishment projects. Her work spans historical buildings and large-scale developments, delivering efficient and reliable structural solutions that extend the service life of existing assets while meeting modern performance and safety standards.
Growing up in Italy shaped her sensitivity to structural resilience and the value of preserving what already exists. This background fostered her interest in retrofit and reuse and continues to guide her approach — combining curiosity for innovative techniques and materials with a practical, sustainable mindset.
Working in a multidisciplinary environment like BG&E has strengthened her technical expertise and exposed her to creative, data-driven solutions that address complex structural challenges while pushing the boundaries of traditional engineering practice, embodying the firm’s commitment to creativity, technical excellence, and sustainable design