Delivering Elegant, Bold and Sustainable Designs!

That is multi-disciplinary international practice, Buro Happold's mission.
Buro Happold the multi-disciplinary consulting firm based in the UK has recently opened their Indian operations in Pune. We've only just opened and are looking to expand our work force, particularly with people whose long term goal matches ours, to deliver sustainable designs and build a sustainable business in India. Our long—term objective is to be India's leading multidisciplinary engineering consultancy and the 'advisor of choice' for high-end, sustainable and architecturally-significant projects, says Mr. Andy Parker, Heading Director, Pune Office in his interview with Rajini Shankar.

Briefly highlight Ted Happold's vision for the company, and its association with Bath University's core values, and how these have evolved since Ted's passing away.
Professor Sir Edmund Happold moved between the worlds of engineering and design, breaking down traditional preconceptions, lifting barriers, and uniting people through big-picture thinking, helping to foster true innovation in building design, of education and of society. An offer to take the chair at the University of Bath led the way for Ted to start his own practice and he founded Buro Happold in 1976 with a team of seven colleagues, from Arup. The peculiar Ted blend of academic research feeding directly back into an increasingly high profile practice and driven by a conscious and determined effort to improve both the built environment and wider society he formed the now reputed Buro Happold practice. The ripples he created in Bath in 1976 are still felt across the industry today. His ideas have made a great impression upon many people in the construction industry who are now engaged in designing and realizing our built environment, both for the present and future generation.

What do the terms 'care, value and elegance' stand for in the current daily functions of Buro Happold?
We aim to produce high-quality engineering design in concept, in detail and in execution—on time, at the same time, delivering excellent value for money. Our distinctive culture and ethos is still based on the same principles of care, value and elegance, that were established when the practice was founded. Our engineering approach is holistic, combining different disciplines into one, integrated team. Our reputation for excellence has grown from the basis that engineering is always viewed as one important component of a project's overall design solution. We constantly strive for innovation. Our appreciation of a client's social, political and economic issues, of architectural and aesthetic qualities, makes us an ideal partner, helping our range of clients to shape great solutions. Dedicated to research, we continually investigate new methods of construction, new materials and new thinking.

When did Buro Happold commence its operations in India?
Buro Happold India Pvt Ltd opened its first office at Pune, India in March 2008. Pune is one of India's fastest developing cities and the key reason for its selection as our first base in India is its proximity to Mumbai and the significantly lower costs. With a population of 4.5m, Pune is the eight largest city in India and is ideally located to serve as a base to support the practice's engineering activities throughout India and importantly Dubai, it has excellent transport links and the office is only 10 minutes from the city's airport. The city is often referred to as the Oxford of the East for its Universities and Educational establishments, which we consider important.

What is Buro Happold's USP in comparison with other structural engineering companies, which are generally, commitment to quality, innovation, and timely completion of projects?
Our first differentiator is that we are not just a structural engineering consultancy. We are a truly multidisciplinary engineering practice covering, MEP, civils, structures and a multitude of specialist engineering areas such as acoustics, fire engineering, and dynamic modeling. Our USP in India is that, we are one of only a handful of consultancies offering an integrated engineering service of the kind that can deliver the holistic solutions that add real value to projects. We also have an affinity with, and significant experience of working alongside, the world's top architects­ - many of which are now beginning to deliver projects in India.

What is Buro Happold's team like, in India?
I am heading a small team of highly-experienced local and expatriate experts, which is organized around the core disciplines of infrastructure, MEP and structures.

How is Buro Happold being branded/positioned in India – as an engineering and architectural services provider/infrastructure expert/innovator in construction methods/promoters of excellence in academia in the construction discipline/other?
Our main three sectors of work in India are building MEP, building structures and infrastructure engineering for master plans. We are targeting high-end projects where our skills will add real value to clients seeking to deliver truly world-class projects.

Given that you work with global and big architects, have you explored the option of tapping the huge talent in India – like Dongre & Dongre Associates which has pioneered architectural excellence since our pre-independence era?
We have developed strong relationships with architects working in the country namely Fosters, FX Fowler and Robert Stern (RAMSA) and it is these key links which have inspired us to open our first Indian office. We very much see a future in working with the leading Indian architects.

What are your flagship projects in the buildings, infrastructure and environment sectors?
In India we are providing infrastructure and sustainability engineering for large-scale master plans for very large sites and new townships in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Pune. We are also providing MEP services for 100 metres plus high mixed use towers in Noida and Gurgaon, Delhi. Recently, our new Indian office has won its first major project with its appointment by the Maharashtra Cricket Association, to project manage the design, procurement and construction of the new Pune International Cricket Center. The 55,000-seater stadium will host key cricket matches during the 2011 world cup. Project consultants include Hopkins Architects (architect), Adams Kara Taylor (structural engineer) and Tata Consulting Engineers (India-based architects and consulting engineers). Our appointment on this high-profile project is a testament to our growing reputation in India and the wider region, which has been built on our track record, as well as recognition for our global project management skills and stadia expertise. Our ability to work closely with UK-based project team members, as well as the client and contractor, on the ground in India, was instrumental to the appointment, which is an early and significant success for our new Indian office.


How does Buro Happold motivate its technical experts to perform well while constantly innovating to keep pace with current trends in construction methods?
We employ the best and brightest designers and provide them with the space and support to stretch themselves. We have a reputation of setting the pace in many areas, especially sustainable design and innovative structural design.

What are Buro Happold's short and long-term objectives for its Pune operations?
Initially the office will concentrate on providing offshore engineering support to other more established parts of the practice and local support on projects in India where another Buro Happold office, for example in the EU or the US, is leading the design with a signature architect. Currently our team in Pune is providing local support to our offices in New York and London, which are working on a series of projects with RAMSA, Foster + Partners and Hopkins, as well as pursuing opportunities in Delhi and Pune, on developments principally run through our offices in New York, Bath and London. This work ranges from high-end, high-rise, mixed use commercial and residential sites through to hospitality developments. There is also the scope for considerable infrastructure support to large urban master plans, especially those over 500 hectares in size. We are looking forward to a wealth of new business, as well as interest from engineers looking to take on a role in this exciting new opportunity. India presents exciting opportunities for Buro Happold to be involved with projects on a scale rarely seen in developing countries.

Internationally reputed multi-disciplinary Engineering Consultancy Buro Happold barely needs an introduction in the construction engineering fraternity.

Backed by an enviable history, governed by firm corporate ethos and mission, and driven by a clear vision, this company is a name to be reckoned with for the broadest range of professional geo-environmental services. Buro Happold currently delivers holistic, pragmatic and innovative solutions in the UK, US, Italy, France, India and worldwide.

Buro Happold has therefore set its sights on Asia, opening new offices in Pune, one of India's fastest developing cities, located 150 km south west of Mumbai.

Buro Happold's key links with leading architects, namely Fosters, FX Fowler and Robert Stern (RAMSA), is a contributing factor to open its office in India.

Headed by Andy Parker, this office will initially concentrate on providing off shore engineering support to other more established parts of Buro Happold.