James Greatorex

UK Head of Building Structures

Contact James Greatorex

T: +44 1223 321 195

“

So many of the sustainable technologies are in their infancy — every project brings the possibility of developing opportunities for their use.

”

Curriculum vitae

James joined the practice as Associate in 2001. He became Associate Director in 2006
and Director in 2008.

Based at Ramboll UK's Cambridge office, James has excellent experience of structural engineering for the education sector, encompassing schools, universities and numerous other further education facilities. Long-term clients include the universities of Cambridge and East Anglia.

Many of James' commissions have involved the construction or adaptation of buildings for sensitive and specialist usage, often in scientific fields. Clients in the commercial, pharmaceutical and industrial sectors have benefited from his knowledge of the structures and design processes involved, including his ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines.

The structural use of timber, particularly the development of innovative timber forms, is another area of James' expertise. He has worked on several award-winning projects in this category.

In addition, James continues to enjoy working on the refurbishment and re-development of historic and landmark buildings.

Recent projects

British Geological Survey offices

The new three-storey office building for the British Geological Survey at their Keyworth campus is the first large-scale building in the UK to use TermoDeck precast slabs supported on timber in a composite structural frame...

NUDC 3

An increase in personal data collection obliged a leading commercial organisation to purchase a seven hectare greenfield site on which to build a new data centre. A defining feature of this project was the detailed coordination between services and structures. A myriad of services was required to support the vast array of IT equipment. The building was designed to have no point of failure; everything is duplicated.

Our first job was to carry out large scale ground improvements to produce a level site. The risk of differential settlement necessitated the use of a cement stabilisation method in order to create a stiff solid platform for the 15,000 sq m ground slab. In addition, it acted as a piling mat and sub-base replacement beneath the 2k of road on site.

The struc ...

Photo: MUMA/ Alan Williams

©

The Whitworth

Through its impressive £15m reinvention, The Whitworth Art Gallery has cemented its place at the centre of the cultural national stage - winning the prestigious 2015 ArtFund Museum of the Year Award and is currently shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize Award 2015.