Arup Group Empowers a Circular and Sustainable Built Environment

Arup Group is a global firm that empowers a circular and sustainable built environment through its innovative approach to design and engineering.

Arup Group has a long history of innovation, dating back to 1946. The company has been a leader in sustainable design and engineering for over 75 years.

Arup Group's expertise in sustainable design and engineering has made it a go-to partner for clients around the world. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their work on high-profile projects such as the Sydney Opera House.

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Arup Group was founded in London in 1946 by Sir Ove Arup, who had established himself as an expert in reinforced concrete in the 1930s.

The company was initially called Ove N. Arup Consulting Engineers and had a vision to be a force for peace and social betterment in the postwar world.

Arup's philosophy was to employ professionals of diverse disciplines to work together on projects, a concept known as 'Total Design'.

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This approach allowed the company to produce projects of greater quality than was achievable by professionals working in isolation.

Arup's wartime experiences and progressive-minded philosophy influenced his vision for the company.

The company grew rapidly, and Arup spurned the common practice of acquiring other companies, instead pursuing natural growth by opening new offices in locations with potential for work.

Within 25 years of its establishment, the firm had become well known for its design work for the built environment, acquiring a reputation for its competence at undertaking complex projects.

Arup worked on multiple high-profile projects during the firm's early years, including the Sydney Opera House, where he was lead engineer.

The Opera House was the first application of computer calculations to an engineering project, using the Ferranti Pegasus computer to generate models.

Arup also worked on projects such as the Centre Pompidou and the HSBC headquarters, collaborating with renowned architects like Rogers & Piano and Norman Foster & Partners.

Arup's work on these projects helped launch the company into the premier league of engineering consultancies.

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The company's philosophy of 'Total Design' and its commitment to community engagement and partnerships with governments and NGOs have contributed to its success.

Here are some key milestones in Arup Group's history:

Arup operates 90 offices across 60 countries worldwide. These offices are interconnected by shared collaborative working packages and communication systems, enabling seamless 24-hour working cycles.

The firm has developed a strong reputation for collaboration, particularly with architects. Arup is often relied upon by architects like Lord Norman Foster, Lord Richard Rogers, and Sir Nicholas Grimshaw.

Arup's global reach and expertise have led to involvement in various sustainability projects.

Highpoint I was built in 1935, marking an important experiment in high-rise residential design.

It was one of Arup's most significant collaborations with Berthold Lubetkin.

However, Arup later criticized the project, noting that it had significant flaws.

Kingsgate Bridge was a significant project for Ove Arup, who personally supervised its design and construction in 1963.

The bridge was the firm's first bridge project, and Arup held a special attachment to it.

After his death, Arup's ashes were scattered from the bridge, a poignant gesture that reflects his connection to the structure.

A bust of Arup was placed at one end of the bridge, but it was stolen in the summer of 2006.

Fortunately, the bust has since been replaced, ensuring that Arup's memory continues to be honored at the bridge.

Kingsgate Bridge was the last structure designed by Arup, marking the end of an era in his remarkable career.

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Arup operates 90 offices across 60 countries worldwide. This extensive network allows the company to work on a global scale.

Shared internet-based collaborative working packages and communication systems enable seamless collaboration between offices, allowing for a 24-hour working cycle. This facilitates projects that require work from multiple offices.

The firm has a strong reputation for collaborating with architects, as highlighted in the BBC Television and RIBA documentary The Brits who Built the Modern World. Arup is often relied upon by prominent architects like Lord Norman Foster and his peers.

Arup has been publishing an annual sustainability report since 2008. This commitment to transparency showcases the company's dedication to reducing its environmental impact.

Dongtan Eco-City and the High Speed 2 Interchange Station are just two examples of Arup's projects aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions. These initiatives demonstrate the company's focus on sustainable practices.

Arup Group has received numerous awards and recognitions for its outstanding work in various fields. The firm is consistently placed amongst top performers in Corporate and Social Responsibility rankings such as the ACCSR.

Arup won the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales of 1998 for their work on the Control Techniques Research and Development HQ, in Newtown, Powys. This achievement showcases the firm's expertise in architectural design.

The Casa da Música, Porto, designed by Arup and Office for Metropolitan Architecture was nominated for the 2007 Stirling Prize. This prestigious nomination highlights the firm's ability to create innovative and award-worthy designs.

Arup Fire has won the Fire Safety Engineering Design award four times since its creation in 2001. The inaugural award was won for Arup's contribution to the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, the world's largest greenhouse.

Here are some notable awards and recognitions received by Arup Group:

Arup's multidisciplinary approach and commitment to excellence have earned them a reputation as a top performer in the industry.

Arup has been a knowledge partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation since 2016, and together they believe that transformative change is needed to shape a better world. System-level change is at the heart of both organisations' missions.

Arup's approach to the design and delivery of projects, encapsulated in the idea of 'Total Architecture', has demonstrated how circularity can be manifested in the built environment. Arup's intervention in the Forth Road Bridge project resulted in a significant reduction in material and other resource use.

The Forth Bridge project, along with other pioneers, demonstrates the application of circular economy in different areas of the built environment. However, the industry as a whole lacks understanding, capabilities, and theory of change to transition to a circular economy.

Arup has taken a whole system approach to put the industry on a path to double resource productivity and halve waste generation by 2030. This involves working closely with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and other partners to undertake a set of initiatives.

To achieve this goal, Arup is undertaking research and business case development, collaboration, and communications initiatives. These include identifying pathways to adoption, defining value-creating business models, and making the investment case for the adoption of a circular economy.

Arup's application of the circular economy goes beyond just buildings and infrastructure. The firm's water experts collaborated with other companies in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation network to develop a better understanding of how circular principles applied to the water and wastewater industry could provide a framework for reducing impact and capturing additional value.

Arup operates from almost 100 offices around the world, including over 40,000 square metres of building area in Central London. As well as shaping a circular, low-carbon future, Arup is getting its own house in order by joining the World Green Building Council (WGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

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