Through Newby's remarkable projects and pioneering approach to collaboration, it reveals lessons that continue to resonate as the profession embraces reuse, retrofit and the transformation of existing buildings.
Drawing on previously unpublished personal papers, sketches, calculations and archival material, Yeomans presents the most comprehensive study of Newby's career, design methods and lasting impact. The book explores how Newby helped redefine the relationship between architecture and engineering, demonstrating that structural engineers are not only technical problem-solvers, but also creative partners in shaping outstanding buildings.
Many of the principles that underpinned Newby's work remain highly relevant today. His emphasis on early collaboration, engineering ingenuity and integrated design teams closely aligns with the profession's efforts to address climate change, improve resilience and deliver better outcomes across the built environment.
Author David Yeomans said:
"Studying Frank Newby's sketches and calculations reveals a designer whose influence extended beyond the engineer's drawing office. He possessed a rare ability to see architecture and structure as parts of a single creative endeavour, and it was this outlook that enabled him to make such a lasting impact. His work demonstrates that the most successful projects emerge from dialogue, trust and shared ambition between architects and engineers. Decades after many of these buildings were conceived, Newby's ideas continue to inspire a new generation who recognise that engineering excellence is measured not only by efficiency, but also by imagination."
The publication serves as more than a historical account. It offers a powerful reminder of the role structural engineers play in creating places that are functional, sustainable and enduring. Through a series of landmark projects, unrealised concepts and innovative structural solutions, readers gain rare insight into the thinking behind some of the most significant engineering achievements of the modern era.
Simon Allford, Executive Director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, describes the book as a compelling portrait of a designer whose influence extended across generations:
"David Yeomans' well-written book tells a tale of the encounters, friendships and projects that shaped Frank Newby's life and career. Newby's grounding in mathematics, his feeling for the forces of engineering dancing with those of gravity, and the pleasure he took in challenging and defining his architects' architecture are clearly revealed. Newby the 'designer', as he was famously described, discreetly exerted a powerful influence over all whom he encountered."
As the structural engineering profession continues to tackle some of society's most pressing challenges, Structural Design for Architecture highlights the enduring value of creativity, collaboration and technical excellence in delivering the buildings and infrastructure of the future.
About the book
Structural Design for Architecture: The Work of Frank Newby
Author: David Yeomans
Publisher: The Institution of Structural Engineers
Publication Date: September 2026
Formats: Print, PDF, and ePUB
Price: £45 (£31.50 for IStructE members)
Available now from the IStructE Bookshop.