My first year on the Structural Awards judging panel was a fascinating process to be part of.
There were so many submissions, of such high standards. They were mostly very well presented, with focus on one, or more, of the four key attributes: Planet, People, Process and Profession.
These criteria allow entrants to demonstrate the quality of their engineering and the affect that it has had - and continues to have - within the wider built environment. It was pleasing to see the diversity of the judging panel members’ backgrounds, interests, specialisms and passions, all combined with dedication and respect for the submissions being reviewed.
I was personally delighted to see the Airedale RAAC Remediation project shortlisted this year. Airedale Hospital is a very large Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) building, dating from the late 1960s, with a high proportion of the RAAC planks showing defects. It is certainly not your typical Structural Awards entry – as a highly functional hospital building, as such it is not classically glamourous or photogenic!
So, why was it shortlisted? Quite simply because it demonstrated excellence in Structural Engineering, with a detailed, pragmatic, risk-based process of safely managing the end of life use and maintenance of a publicly vital building, until a replacement hospital can be constructed.
At the heart of this project was the focus on ensuring staff and patients felt safe and were fully briefed regarding the safety measures put in place and what to look out for regarding further deterioration, combined with a deep understanding of the material properties and behaviour.
Reference can be made to the many resources available from the IStructE website regarding the issues with RAAC and the
latest guidance.
Matt is a Co-Founder and Director at Subteno. He is a consulting engineer with widespread experience across the commercial, retail, and industrial sectors in the UK, as well as specialising in brownfield modifications of offshore structures. Matt has been actively involved with the Institution since the mid 1990’s serving on numerous panels and committees as well as being East Anglian Regional Group Chairman twice, served on Council and the Board. He was President in 2023 and is now also a Structural Award judge.
Matt progressed from becoming an Incorporated Engineer in 1995, to Chartered in 2005 and a Fellow in 2015. In 2014 he was presented with the Institution’s Lewis Kent Award.