What is holistic engineering? Why is it best for our clients and their projects? And what do we need to do to make it happen? UK Director, Ross Harvey, discusses how we can optimise the benefits of being a multidisciplinary organisation to deliver outstanding projects.
Design as an interconnected whole
Put simply, holistic engineering is an approach that sees design as an interconnected whole. It seeks to integrate the skills and methodologies of designers from multiple disciplines into a collaborative effort for the good of the project.
Every discipline has its own priorities and concerns, but we are all connected by the project, and we must never lose sight of how our designs, decisions and changes may impact other disciplines.
Holistic design approach for 22 Bishopsgate
22 Bishopsgate, which will be London’s second tallest tower when complete, provides an example of the benefits of a holistic approach. As structural engineers, when designing the steelwork, we were under pressure from the contractor to deliver the designs within a very tight timeframe to enable the costings to move forward. This didn’t give the MEP engineers enough time to generate their services in the developing REVIT model, so we didn’t know where to put the penetrations in the beams for the air ducts. So structures and MEP sat down together and discussed a solution that would work for us all. This was to cut a rectangular void in the beams all around the core. It was a simple, cost-free solution that had no impact on the stiffness of the structure, it provided MEP with what they required for their services, and it enabled us to release the information early enough for the contractor’s pricing requirement.
A holistic approach is client-centric
This holistic engineering approach requires the engagement of all our colleagues from all disciplines involved in a multidisciplinary project, in conversation with the architect and the client. And if they see the benefits of us all pulling together for the sake of the project, delivering solutions that are of most value, they will come back to us in the future.
In essence, a holistic engineering approach is a client-centric approach, and can be a significant differentiator between us and other companies who can offer multidiscipline services.