Sandbox from Buro Happold

What could the future of forensic engineering and building safety look like? In the latest episode of our Sandbox podcast, ‘What’s the Crack? Investigating buildings through structural forensics,’ our panel looks ahead to 2046 and explores how structural forensics could evolve over the next two decades.  The conversation covers the growing role of AI, supporting legislation, data analysis, and str...

How does the Building Safety Act support forensic engineers in creating more resilient buildings?  The Building Safety Act 2022 shapes how structural performance is thought about across the full life of a building, not just at design and construction, but long after completion.  As discussed in the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, the Building Safety Act responds to a long‑standing need fo...

When a building raises questions, structural forensics helps uncover the answers.  Unlike traditional structural engineering, structural forensics looks back by examining existing buildings to understand what went wrong, why it happened, and what needs to change moving forward to ensure the resilience of a building.  In this week’s Sandbox FOMO5, taken from our latest episode ‘What’s the crack? In...

How does Structural Forensics ‘crack the case’ on our buildings?  Forensic engineering might sound like something out of CSI but in reality, it is a vital discipline keeping our buildings safe, resilient, and fit for the future.  In the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, we explore how engineers analyse buildings: investigating cracks, hidden defects, and design decisions to understand how s...

How does ESG leave a lasting legacy?   In our latest Sandbox FOMO5 short, taken from our latest podcast episode, ‘ESG: Beyond the Buzzwords’, our experts explore how ESG moves from ambition to action, and what it really takes to create impact that lasts beyond individual projects.   From setting portfolio-wide standards, to embedding ESG into design, procurement and company culture, this episode g...

What really counts when it comes to measuring the ‘S’ in ESG?  In this week’s FOMO5, taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ podcast episode, ‘ESG Beyond the Buzzwords,’ Bianca Laura Latini, Associate Director, Buro Happold, breaks down what meaningful social impact measurement should look like in practice. As she puts it: “You are talking about complex things like community impact, individual health, men...

Think You Know ESG? Our experts break it down.   ESG is everywhere, but what does it actually mean for your organisation, your projects, and the decisions being made behind the scenes?  In our latest podcast episode, ‘ESG Beyond the Buzzwords: Inside the decisions shaping our lives’, Buro Happold experts break down what ESG really looks like in practice - beyond headlines and high-level policy.  I...

What if three letters were quietly influencing the decisions that shape your daily life without you even realising it?  ESG. We hear this ‘buzzword’ everywhere - but do we really understand what it means, why it matters, and how it is transforming the built environment?  In the latest episode of our ‘Sandbox’ podcast, host Andy Duncan is joined by Buro Happold experts - Trevor Keeling, Bianca Laur...

How does infrastructure investment shape lives and communities? Find out why future-focused planning matters in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 episode...  When it comes to our infrastructure systems in the UK, focusing on the short-term can often lead to more extensive long-term costs. From potholes and power outages to rail disruptions and water shortages, under-investment impacts everyone.   As cli...

Building for Resilience: How can our UK infrastructure be future-proofed against a changing climate? Find out more in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 episode...  The UK has seen a rise in extreme weather. Storms that were once ‘one-in-20-year' events now happen annually, while flooding and heatwaves dominate headlines. These events are no longer rare and our critical systems are under stress like never...

What does ‘resilience’ really mean when it comes to infrastructure?  It is more than just bouncing back from disruption. As Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, explains in our latest episode of Sandbox, resilience is about designing systems that can adapt to change, and recover quickly - especially in the face of climate events, energy crises, or digital disruptions.  Infrastructu...

How can major infrastructure be designed for tomorrow’s challenges? From powering our homes to connecting cities, infrastructure is the backbone of modern life - yet it often goes unnoticed.   In our latest episode of Sandbox, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’, our Buro Happold experts unpack what it really means to design infrastructure that is ready for tomorrow’s ch...

What could a stadium look like in 2045? Our panel ‘header’ into the future in our latest ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  From holographic sports games to multi-use community hubs and immersive concert experiences, the future of UK stadia is bursting with possibility.  Taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Beyond the Game: Energising community spaces’, this short episode explores visionary ideas of what in...

The future of stadia design: Built for the next generation, by the next generation. Designing the stadiums of tomorrow involves a mix of considerations - from retrofitting existing structures to enhancing community impact and meeting sustainability goals. In this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5, taken from our latest episode ‘Beyond the game: Energising community spaces’, Paul Eddleston explores his work a...

How could rethinking a stadium's infrastructure needs create a powerful new sense of place? It’s not just about what happens on the pitch. With tens of thousands of fans attending major events, the infrastructure around a stadium plays a huge role in shaping the overall experience - from crowd flow and transport to public spaces and connectivity. In our latest Sandbox FOMO5, Buro Happold’s Colin B...

How could stadia become the new heart of their community beyond game day? That was the question put to our guests in this episode…  With the weekend on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to ‘kick back’ and listen to our sportiest episode yet of ‘Sandbox’.  Stadia are more than just venues for sport - they’re economic and cultural powerhouses that bring people together. But what happens when the fi...

On your marks, get set, LISTEN: Start your week with our latest episode of ‘Sandbox’...   From football to cricket, sports are woven into the fabric of our lives. As one of our panel guests, Colin Byrne, brilliantly puts it: “If you look back in cave paintings in France about 15,000 years ago, they're depicting sprinting and wrestling matches.  “And that sums up that we've always been interested i...

How lightly can we travel to be more sustainable tourists?  With summer holidays fast approaching, many of us are planning trips across the UK or abroad to enjoy new cuisines, explore historic sites, and soak up the sun.  In our latest Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode, ‘Summer in the City’, this week’s FOMO5 features an insightful excerpt from Episode 10, ‘Sustainable Tourism: Travelling to a greener futur...

As temperatures soar in the UK, it's crucial to adapt our buildings to withstand the heat.  Buildings vs Heatwaves: How do we boost resilience in extreme weather?   Taken from our latest Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode, ‘Summer in the City’, this week’s FOMO5 highlights an insightful extract from Episode 05, ‘Weathering Heights’. Join Smith Mordak, Chief Executive of UKGBC, and Lara Balazs, Associate, Bur...

Summer in the City: How Engineering Shapes Seasonal Urban Life.  With summer fast approaching and temperatures in areas across the UK set to soar above 25°C next week, it’s time to ask: are our cities ready to keep us cool, connected and resilient?   In this special Sandbox ‘Extra’ episode we revisit some of the powerful moments from our previous episodes, to explore how clever engineering helps u...

How could we all optimise lighting and acoustics in our homes – and what exactly is ‘pink noise’? Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  When it comes to our homes, comfort is key. Whether you want to relax or focus, the lighting and acoustics in our internal environments make such a difference to our everyday lives.   Taken from our latest podcast episode, ‘How Buildings Affect Your Sle...

Imagine working in a space that invisibly enhances your sleep quality and reduces stress, making every day better - Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  “It’s producing an environment that is not targeted at neurodivergent people, it's targeted at everyone. And that is the thing for me that’s really important: It creates a space that’s neuro-inclusive so that it works for all of us as...

Did you know - When in a building, whether it be our homes or offices, we often overlook how lighting and acoustics impact our mental and physical well-being. Spend five minutes with us to understand more, and what you could do about it…  As an example, insufficient lighting can lead to musculoskeletal issues due to poor posture, while bad acoustics could cause cardiovascular problems. Discover wh...

How do buildings affect our sleep, stress and productivity, without us noticing? Discover the surprising impact of our surroundings in the newest episode of ‘Sandbox’...  Our internal environment can have a more profound impact on our productivity and wellbeing than you may think. From physical effects to reduced mental wellbeing, poor acoustics and lighting can significantly contribute to how we...

How can sustainable tourism be transformed at a business and policy level? And how could this contribute to the authenticity of a place? Find out more in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...  In this week’s Sandbox FOMO5, taken from our latest podcast episode ‘Sustainable Tourism: Travelling to a Greener Future’, our experts unpacked the findings from Buro Happold's recent design sprint with Bath and No...