Our in-house design and engineering function is comprehensive, encompassing teams for temporary works design, geotechnical design, and reinforcement design, all managed by highly qualified and experienced engineers. Our engineers and designers are exceptionally diligent, with proven capabilities. Additionally, we offer further engineering and design support through our Materials Technology Centres located in London and Manchester, our specialist in-house land surveying team, precast design, and digital engineering resources.
Temporary Works Design
Our in-house design department manages temporary works design, ensuring control and certainty with 23 engineers, including 11 Chartered Engineers. Collaborating with site engineers and Temporary Works Coordinators, we ensure safety and compliance per BS:5975 standards. We provide bespoke solutions, adapting permanent designs to minimise temporary works, maintaining detailed registers for risk classification and design checks.
Reinforcement Design
Our reinforcement design capability features a highly experienced in-house 3D rebar modelling team of 42 people. This team trains, supports, and guides all site and external 3D modelling teams, driving technical innovation through our 3D digital build process used on all projects. This approach enhances accuracy, reduces clashes, and ensures efficient reinforcement installation, contributing to programme savings and improved construction outcomes.
Geotechnical Design
Our geotechnical design capability involves comprehensive expertise in foundation solutions and ground engineering techniques. We utilise the latest rigs and technology to deliver precise geotechnical assessments, ensuring optimal design and construction outcomes. Our approach includes detailed site investigations, soil profiling, and ground improvement techniques to support both temporary and permanent works, while integrating sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact.
Digital Engineering
Our digital engineering capability uses advanced BIM tools to streamline delivery, ensure certainty, and enhance safety. BSI ISO 19650 Kitemark-certified, we employ Autodesk Revit and Navisworks for model coordination and clash detection. We create secure common data environments and collaborate with design teams for spatial optimisation and DfMA integration. Our approach supports sustainability, reduces risks, and offers detailed asset management information.
Facade Design
Our facade design capability integrates innovative solutions, emphasising thermal and airtightness performance. We deliver complex facades using mixed types like precast concrete and unitised curtain walling. Our approach ensures compliance with stringent criteria through phased testing and inspections. We collaborate with design teams and supply chain partners to realise complex concepts, achieving Passivhaus standards and ensuring sustainable, aesthetically pleasing outcomes.
Offsite Manufacturing / Modern Methods of Construction / DfMA
Our offsite manufacturing design capability, driven by DfMA principles, features Europe's largest preassembly facility, CEMC. We produce high-quality precast concrete components, ensuring faster, safer, and sustainable construction. Our approach reduces onsite labour by 60% and programme duration by 30%, with precise factory-controlled and seamless design integration. Digital tools enhance accuracy and efficiency, supporting projects from start to finish with predictable outcomes.
Sustainable Design
Our sustainable design capabilities are comprehensive, focusing on reducing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental performance throughout the project lifecycle, enabling Expanded to deliver projects that are environmentally responsible, resource-efficient, and aligned with client sustainability goals.
We aim to achieve operational Net Zero across Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and full Net Zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2050. This commitment guides our sustainable design strategies.
We collaborate with clients and design teams to drive low-carbon solutions, considering whole-life carbon in project designs. Our approach includes using low-carbon materials, optimising designs to minimise waste, and employing digital tools like structural carbon modelling to identify and reduce high-carbon areas.
Our in-house capabilities include developing low-carbon precast concrete products, employing modular construction methods, and using recycled and reclaimed materials to reduce embodied carbon
We focus on integrating high-performance building facades, low-energy technologies, and renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaics and ground source pumps, to enhance energy efficiency and meet regulations like BREEAM.
Using Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), we reduce onsite emissions and improve resource efficiency. This approach supports our goal to reduce vehicle movements and carbon footprint during construction.
We employ electric hybrid plant equipment to minimise emissions on site and use technologies like hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel to further cut lifecycle emissions.
We track carbon and resource use at all project stages using systems like our IMPACT portal and common data environments. This allows us to communicate progress effectively with clients and ensure alignment with sustainability targets.