Expertise
  • Seismic Structural Design and Detailing
  • Peer Review Assignments
  • Seismic Assessment and Retrofit Design and Detailing
  • 3D Visualization and Detailing
  • Low (and focused) Damage Design and Detailing (structural)
  • Temporary Works Design and Detailing
  • Overall Problem Solver (structural)
  • Innovator (structural devices)
  • Forensic Structural Assignments
Getting the right concept - Day ONE of the project is your dumbest day - you know very little about the project, and yet on the basis of a few architectural sketch ideas you have to come up with a structural design philosophy that you likely have to live with until the end of the project. Getting the right concept facilitates the harmony of the future design process, getting the wrong concept is like doing daily battle with nature in trying to control discordant loadpaths, often with severely compromised and inefficient use of structure. I have done enough battling in my career to quickly identify concepts that have a chance and can undertake conceptual mathematical studies to identify the more preferable concept given the little known project constraints at the concept design stage.

Featured capability

I created this device to take up tolerance requirements for different construction elements - for example, often foundation bolts are placed out of tolerance leading to issues connecting the subsequent steel structure - this solution allows for a clean connection without having to ream any holes.
Whilst working for a former employer, I provided the Christchurch City Council with peer review advice regarding the structural design of the Central Library. The building went on to win several presitgious international structural design awards.
Detailed seismic assessment and targeted retrofit solution for this high rise building located on Boulcott Street, Wellington.
The best kind of temporary works, is no temporary works - which we were able to achieve with this Queenstown hotel basement excavation, incorporating the temporary lateral support into the main structure by adopting a build down and undermine approach. I enjoy collaborating with contractors and celebrate their pragmatic approach. After all, they have to build it!
Drawing it to scale whilst designing it at the same time leads to both the visual and practical appreciation of complex connections - when it's done, you know it's right, and that it will fit. Quality assurance built in.
Working for a previous employer, I undertook the design of this post tensioned rocking wall system incorporating 10, buckling restrained braces at each end of the wall with 5, 60mm diameter McAlloy bars, and a reinforced shear key. Damage was focused on the braces, which could be swopped out after an event, leaving the primary shear walls undamaged.