The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below.

This month’s guest is WSP associate structural engineer Sally Walsh, who joins the podcast to discuss steel reuse in construction, specifically on the Elephant & Castle Town Centre scheme.

The Elephant & Castle Town Centre scheme is regenerating a lively part of central London into a vibrant new mixed-use hub with ample living space, commercial offerings and public spaces. WSP is the structural and geotechnical engineer on the project and Sally has been at the heart of the decision-making, which has seen the firm push the contractor to utilise reused steel in some of the structures – a first for the consultant.

In this discussion, we cover how the decision was made to make this WSP’s first project to attempt steel reuse, how it was implemented and the learnings – both positive and negative – that have come out of it.

Sally and host Rob Hakimian then broaden out the discussion into how steel reuse could become business as usual in the sector – the types of projects where it is most suited, the barriers that stand in the way and the benefits that it could bring to the built environment.

Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Thomas Johnson to discuss recent revelations about the HS2 “bat shed” and the upcoming outcomes from the government’s Spending Review.

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below.

This month’s guest is Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) President Jim Hall, who joins host Rob Hakimian to discuss the work of the ICE in representing and supporting civil engineers in the modern construction and economic landscape.

After getting to know Jim, hearing about his storied career and new role at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista), the discussion turns to emerging considerations in the sector, including the need to improve efficiency in the workforce and build infrastructure resilience. They discuss how digitisation is a growing tool in this field and how the ICE is seeking to foster collaboration through its knowledge services to bring forward cutting edge solutions.

Lastly, they look ahead to what future civil engineers can expect and how the ICE is providing pathways to reflect the diversity of the profession and bring new talent into it.

Before the interview section, Rob is joined by NCE senior report Tom Pashby to discuss the launch of Nista and infrastructure preparedness for space weather.

This month’s guest is Civic Engineers associate director Sam Harland who talks to host Rob Hakimian about the Building Safety Act 2022 and how it is changing the way that engineers are working.

They talk about how it has introduced new processes, particularly for structural engineers like Harland, with the tightening of design competency requirements, the introduction of the gateway process and the creation of the Golden Thread for buildings. The discussion particularly focuses on what this means for works on existing buildings and how engineers now have to carry out extensive investigations to uncover their structural health and history. Harland also provides insight on how implementation of the Act has been difficult and how it might drive the future of the sector.

Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporters Thomas Johnson and Tom Pashby to discuss some of the reporting they have been doing on the Havant Thicket Reservoir, water quality in the River Thames and the protracted consenting process for the Aquind Interconnector.