What we do
The structural engineering team is led by CAR directors Philip Cooper and Tyrone Bowen and CAR Associate Amy Banks. The team has a reputation for intelligent design and for developing practical and innovative solutions using new materials as well as the conservation and restoration of historic structures.
Among noteworthy innovations are a lightweight composite glass floor using a honeycomb structure, a super-slim lighting track from aluminium stiffened with steel, trusses made of masonry, tile vaults built without formwork, and timber staircases without side support.
Clients include the University of Cambridge and its colleges, Royal Academy of Arts, National Maritime Museum, British Aerospace, Hippodrome Theatre, The National Trust and English Heritage.
Collaboration with architectural practices includes Hopkins Architects, Allies and Morrison, Stanton Williams, Tim Ronalds. Freeland Rees Roberts, NRAP, and David Chipperfield.
House extension, Royston, NRAP Architects
A striking staircase with solid timber treads fills the gap between the original Victorian house and the spacious, daylit, timber-framed extension.
Coleridge Community College, Cambridge, Haysom Ward Miller Architects
New, low energy ‘link building’ comprising a foyer for social interaction, public display of student work, music and drama; new 4-court indoor sports hall.
Wilton’s Music Hall, London, Tim Ronalds Architects
Invisible refurbishment of this unique musical hall, comprising acoustic lining, improved heating and ventilation, without loss of character or historic fabric.
St George’s Chapel, Gt Yarmouth, Hopkins Architects
Turning a disused but fine Georgian church into a theatre space with modern services and new, separate foyer.
Sundial, Chilpancingo Mexico, Will Andrewes
A unique sundial large enough to see the motion of the sun under an armillary sphere and over a map of the world carved in granite.
Wymondham Abbey, Freeland Rees Roberts Architects
Providing new public display space in this historic abbey.
EF English First, Cambridge, NRAP Architects
Elegant construction of new classrooms in timber, steel and glass.
Tatlin Tower, 1 to 40 model, Royal Academy of Arts
Built in steel, this faithful 1 to 40 scale model of Tatlin’s iconic but unbuildable tower, gives viewers a glimpse of Constructivism in 1920’s Russia.
Royal Academy of Arts, London, Ongoing refurbishment; Courtyard paving and fountains, Hopkins Architects; Masterplanning, David Chipperfield Architects
Ongoing refurbishment of galleries, courtyard paving and fountains; new plant rooms for air conditioning, and advice to artists to realise their ambitious installations.
Hippodrome Theatre, London, CAR Ltd.
Appraisal and refurbishment of widespan roof.
Café Royal, London, David Chipperfield Architects
Extensive alterations to turn this early steel framed building into a luxury hotel.
Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, New Music School, Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams Ltd.
A brand new auditorium and practice rooms amongst fine naval architecture from 1930s.
Royal Observatory Greenwich, New Planetarium, Allies and Morrison Architects
Striking bronze-clad modern planetarium with state-of-the-art projection under a conical auditorium roof.
The Pines Calyx, Dover, St. Margaret’s Bay Trust
A shallow dome built Spanish style using Catalonian tile vaulting without any formwork.
University of the Arts, King’s Cross, Feasibility Study, Stanton Williams Architects
A spacious new art school within the disused Victorian freight terminal that was once King’s Cross Station.
Hackney Empire Theatre, London, Tim Ronalds Architects
Saving a fine Frank Matcham theatre for Hackney and the nation.
Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Tim Ronalds Architects
An uncompromisingly modern theatre housed inside three interlocking brick cones right next to the sea
Ruskin Library, University of Lancaster, MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects
An award-winning archive to bring together the original work of John Ruskin.
Trinity College, Cambridge
Great Court; Wren Library refurbishment; Boathouse; Underground Library; student accommodation: Blue Boar Court and Burrells Field (MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects); New Court, Grade 1 listed refurbishment, 5th Studio Architects
Renovation of historic buildings, design of new residential courts and adaptation of 19th century courtyard to 21st century sustainable standards.