Engineering a great American future

Local experience, global vision. Whether your project is educational, corporate or cultural, Buro Happold engineers, supported by a global network of specialists, have the skills and knowledge to deliver your vision.

In this post, we highlight some of the most innovative projects our specialist teams are working on in the United States.

Engineering that performs

Remarkable, acoustically superior cultural spaces. At Buro Happold, we build venues that challenge the average and the everyday, creating iconic buildings that are invaluable to their communities. Our theaters, museums and galleries accommodate, engage and inspire both performers and visitors from across the globe. Buro Happold will always look at how a building is used by modeling visitor flow and improving access.

The stunning steel and glass dome appears to float effortlessly, despite weighing 350 tons. During an earthquake, base-isolators allow the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures theater to move up to 30-inches in any direction Image: Renzo Piano Building Workshop

The new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, designed by Pritzker-Prize winning architect Renzo Piano, features a soaring glass orb structure that houses a 1,000-seat theater and terrace. The complex structure is taking shape on the site of the historic May Company Building (renamed the Saban Building) in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. Our structural engineers have overcome the seismic issues on the site through the use of advanced technologies and an integrated design approach. With additional support from our MEP, environmental and energy modeling experts, this premier institution devoted to exploring the art and science of movies and movie making is set to be completed in 2019.

Engineering that’s top of the class

Buro Happold understands the ongoing challenge of attracting students to an institution. We acknowledge a need to gain an edge on competitors by providing exceptional facilities, stunning architecture and high quality learning environments. Our global experience spans the entire spectrum of buildings that modern academia requires; from high tech laboratories and performance halls to premium teaching spaces and multipurpose social areas.

We have a depth of knowledge and awareness of what is required to create learning environments that appeal to the current and future generation of undergraduates.

Cornell Tech is the world’s tallest and largest residential Passive House building. Image: Iwan Baan

At Cornell Tech in New York City, our team has completed The House, the world’s tallest and largest residential Passive House certified building that has also achieved LEED Platinum certification. We provided multidisciplinary engineering services to achieve Passive House, a rigorous international building standard that results in dramatically reduced energy consumption and operational energy savings while providing superior comfort and indoor air quality.

On the same campus, we are also engineering the Executive Education Center, which is set to become a leading technology venue. It will act as a center of activity on campus, serving Cornell Tech as well as the technology and business communities in New York City. Cornell University is committed to pursuing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and is pursuing LEED certification for all of their Roosevelt Island campus buildings. The Executive Education Center is targeting LEED silver certification.

Putting people at the heart of commercial developments to boost productivity

Our award-winning offices illustrate our ability to deliver pioneering buildings designed to fully support the needs of the companies that use them — both now and for decades to come.

We know that the future lies in sustainable buildings that support human health. Alongside architects FXCollaborative, Buro Happold provided integrated engineering design services for 888 Boylston in Boston, MA, a 16 story office tower that puts occupant experience and sustainability at the heart of its design. Working together, the design team was able to deliver a high performance commercial office building that achieved the client’s vision of LEED Platinum certification, the highest LEED certification possible.

888 Boylston Street places occupant comfort at its heart, providing flexible office space, retail outlets and many other amenities over 16 floors.

Smart engineering for a sustainable future

Buro Happold sees sustainability as a key consideration in all projects. This is apparent in all our work, from one of the world’s most sustainable office blocks, in The Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, to Arizona State University, Beus Center for Law & Society, where our energy analysis team developed bespoke low energy designs, resulting in an efficient and comfortable internal environment for students.

Our multi-award winning LA office practices what we preach by incorporating a number of sustainable initiatives into design. The Buro Happold team engineered a highly sustainable office that is also representative of how our different discipline teams combine their skills to offer exceptional solutions. A key element of the project was to improve the wellbeing of employees, creating a working space that is both energy efficient and a positive place to work. With fixtures that reduce water usage by 36% and renewable energy systems that feed back into the city systems, we are able to purchase 100% of our annual power in Renewable Energy credits. The office is LEED Platinum certified, pursuing WELL Gold certification, and has received the ‘Just’ label through the International Living Future Institute.

Contact one of our engineering specialists near you to find out how we can help make your vision viable.