Fri 21 June – Farewell Dinner at the National Gallery

6:30pm
Farewell Dinner at the National Gallery.
Then home to pack and check-out in the morning.

I want to say thank you to many people who made this study-abroad experience possible:
– To The University of Texas CAEE department, and the UT Study Abroad Office.
– To the AIFS, who provide assistance to us in London.
– To the London firms who generously share their time and expertise.
– To our families who encouraged and supported this trip.
– To my London students, whom I have had the privilege to share such a formative experience with.

May we remember this trip all of our lives.

Best regards,

Gregory Brooks

Fri 21 June – Research presentations to class

9:30am – 5pm

Last day of the program! Students presented the results of their research while in London, representing the 1st draft of their papers. All students will be submitting the final draft of their research papers 2 weeks after returning to the U.S. Those drafts will then be sent to their London mentors for a quick check, before being turned in to the university.

Wed 19 June – AKT

9:30am
Building Tour of the Angel Building (AHMM architects and AKT engineering). Led by AKT engineers Alex Widdison and Vicoria Grabowski.

1:30pm
Office visit at AKT engineering. Presentation by Hanif Kara, co-founder, director of AKT. Topic: office philosophy and recent projects.

Tues 18 June – SOM and Bennetts Associates

9:30am
Office visit at London office of Skidmore, Owings, Merrill architects + engineers.

– Swiss Headquarters: Yasemin Kologlu (architect, assoc. director ) + Stuart Marsh (engineer, Assoc. Director-Structures).

– Manhattan Loft Gardens: Christopher Wollaston (architect, senior designer) + Stuart Marsh (engineer,Assoc. Director-Structures).

– Baltimore Tower project: Andy Karaiskos (senior technical architect) – engineering outsourced.

1:30pm
Office visit to Bennetts Associates, sustainability discussion with Peter Fisher, architect, assoc. director.

Mon 17 June – Bleigiessen + Walking Tour 2

1:30pm
Visit to Welcome Trust building and private tour of Bleigiessen sculpture.

2:30pm At ULU classroom: discussion with Sinéad Sheehan about UK internships and employment logistics.

3:00pm
Walking Tour 2 (the sequel). Wrapping up our walking tour project – this time centering on the new skyscrapers in the City of London (financial district). Visit to St. Mary Axe, Leadenhall, Lloyd’s of London, Lloyd’s Register.

JCF

Fri 14 June – Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

1:30pm
Office visit to RSH-P.

– Rob Fiehn: Office tour and firm history.

– Jack Newton and Richard Keys: Leadenhall tower design and construction.

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Fri 14 June – AHMM

9:30am
Building tour of full-scale mock-up, The White Collar Factory – a new concept for flexible office space in London, highly energy efficient, loft-style with integrated chilled slabs, natural ventillation. Tour by firm Director, Simon Allford, AHMM.
10:30am
Office visit, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, presentation by Simon Allford:
– General architecture/culture discussion.
– New Google headquarters project, London (King’s Cross).

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Thurs 13 June – Max Fordham LLP

1:30pm
A small group of students (sustainability, energy and M.E.P. interests) met at the offices of specialist engineers Max Fordham, LLP.

– Neil Smith: Max Fordham overview and recent projects.

– Nick Brown and Pete Burgon: University of Kent project.

Meanwhile, Prof. Brooks was mistakenly led by his smartphone to a different location for Max Fordham: his home. Rescuing the confused instructor, Max Fordham and his wife provided a cup of coffee, and an afternoon of stories and ideas.

Thurs 13 June – Buro Happold

9:30am
Office visit at Buro Happold – Structural group.
Arranged by Andrew Best, steadfast supporter of our program since 2007.

– Jim Fleming: Cutty Sark visitors centre structure and construction.

– Mike Keverne: Olympic Stadium structure and construction.

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Wed 12 June – WSP Engineering + visit to The Shard

9:30am
Office visit to WSP.

– Bill Price: Overview and engineering of The Shard.

– Ron Slade: Presentation on hand-draws sketches in engineering. Examples from history and drawing techniques. Ron brought along 3 giant portfolio binders for the students to look thru. These were full of hand-drawings that he produced while working at WSP.

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1:30pm
Visit to the top of The Shard, accompanied by project engineers Roma Agrawal (tower structure) and Anu (hotel fit-out).