Alastair Barnard MEng Associate Alastair has significant design experience on a wide range of building types and large scale public art projects.
Alastair has expertise in designing for structural efficiency including timber design and low carbon foundation techniques.
He has a strong interest in parametric modelling and detailed structural analysis, employing these skills on numerous large-scale public artworks in the UK and abroad.
Recent notable projects include the structural design of the recent Tate Modern Turbine Hall installations by Cecilia Vicuna and El Anatsui, and a low carbon Maggie’s Centre.
Qualifications
MEng Civil Engineering (First Class Honours) 2016 University of Bath
Alastair has expertise in designing for structural efficiency including timber design and low carbon foundation techniques.
He has a strong interest in parametric modelling and detailed structural analysis, employing these skills on numerous large-scale public artworks in the UK and abroad.
Recent notable projects include the structural design of the recent Tate Modern Turbine Hall installations by Cecilia Vicuna and El Anatsui, and a low carbon Maggie’s Centre.
Qualifications
MEng Civil Engineering (First Class Honours) 2016 University of Bath
Maisie Bourne MEng Project Engineer Maisie joined Structure Workshop in October 2023 as a graduate from The University of Sheffield.
In addition to gaining broader design experience, she is particularly interested in timber design and sustainability, having written her research dissertation on utilising CNC manufactured Japanese joinery in timber construction.
Maisie's passion lies in designing structures that are both elegant and efficient, and her background as a hobbyist woodworker has further developed her appreciation for combining form and function. She is currently working on a range of projects with a focus on low carbon design, including a series of timber tree houses in Norfolk.
Qualifications
MEng RIBA Part I Structural Engineering and Architecture 2023 University of Sheffield
In addition to gaining broader design experience, she is particularly interested in timber design and sustainability, having written her research dissertation on utilising CNC manufactured Japanese joinery in timber construction.
Maisie's passion lies in designing structures that are both elegant and efficient, and her background as a hobbyist woodworker has further developed her appreciation for combining form and function. She is currently working on a range of projects with a focus on low carbon design, including a series of timber tree houses in Norfolk.
Qualifications
MEng RIBA Part I Structural Engineering and Architecture 2023 University of Sheffield
Max Clayton MEng CEng MIStructE Associate Director Max leads his own design team within the practice, with a focus on technical innovation, geometry and low carbon design.
His recent retrofit project Yorkton Workshops won Architect’s Journal Retrofit of the Year Award 2021 and he was shortlisted for the Young Structural Engineering Professional Award 2021.
More recently he has led the design of a life size scale cast bronze replica of the famous ‘Dippy’ for permanent display outside the Natural History Museum.
His work at Hughes Hall College Cambridge pioneers the use of timber and structural stone applied to mid-rise student accommodation.
Qualifications
MEng RIBA Part I Structural Engineering and Architecture 2015 University of Sheffield
His recent retrofit project Yorkton Workshops won Architect’s Journal Retrofit of the Year Award 2021 and he was shortlisted for the Young Structural Engineering Professional Award 2021.
More recently he has led the design of a life size scale cast bronze replica of the famous ‘Dippy’ for permanent display outside the Natural History Museum.
His work at Hughes Hall College Cambridge pioneers the use of timber and structural stone applied to mid-rise student accommodation.
Qualifications
MEng RIBA Part I Structural Engineering and Architecture 2015 University of Sheffield
Daniel Dowek MA MEng CEng MIStructE Associate Director Daniel joined Structure Workshop in 2021 after three years in Vancouver with Equilibrium Consulting, a firm known for their innovation in the field of timber engineering. There he gained exposure to North America’s progressive approach to building with timber at a large scale and the advantages of prefabrication, having designed the tallest all wood building in Washington DC.
Previously Daniel spent seven years at Price & Myers in London, working on a number of high profile and award-winning projects. There he developed a particular interest in conservation, a highlight being lead project engineer for the design and construction of a new tower at Westminster Abbey, which was the first major architectural intervention at the Abbey since the time of Christopher Wren and Nicolas Hawksmoor.
In 2018 Daniel’s career was commended by the Institution of Structural Engineers, who named him winner of their Young Professional Award. Since then he has enjoyed engaging with the wider engineering community in Canada and the UK, including judging awards for the IStructE each year.
Qualifications
MA MEng Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering 2011 University of Cambridge
Previously Daniel spent seven years at Price & Myers in London, working on a number of high profile and award-winning projects. There he developed a particular interest in conservation, a highlight being lead project engineer for the design and construction of a new tower at Westminster Abbey, which was the first major architectural intervention at the Abbey since the time of Christopher Wren and Nicolas Hawksmoor.
In 2018 Daniel’s career was commended by the Institution of Structural Engineers, who named him winner of their Young Professional Award. Since then he has enjoyed engaging with the wider engineering community in Canada and the UK, including judging awards for the IStructE each year.
Qualifications
MA MEng Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering 2011 University of Cambridge
Sophie Frith MEng CEng MIStructE Associate Sophie leads her own design team within the practice and is currently working on several projects that reflect her technical design skills and interest in sustainable design and construction.
Recent projects include a new landmark dining hall project for Homerton College at Cambridge University and a visitor centre for the National Trust at Winkworth Arboretum.
She has also been instrumental in the development of our in-house tools to calculate the embodied carbon in structures.
Qualifications
MEng Civil and Structural Engineering (First Class Honours) 2014 Newcastle University
Recent projects include a new landmark dining hall project for Homerton College at Cambridge University and a visitor centre for the National Trust at Winkworth Arboretum.
She has also been instrumental in the development of our in-house tools to calculate the embodied carbon in structures.
Qualifications
MEng Civil and Structural Engineering (First Class Honours) 2014 Newcastle University
Donna Hay Studio Manager Donna joined Structure Workshop in Nov 2017, after an exciting and challenging career in the events and catering sector.
She runs the studio with care, striving to look after the wellbeing of the team and ensuring the work place is a positive, welcoming environment.
She is responsible for HR, Finance, Health and Safety and the day to day running of the practice, and has been instrumental in helping us to gain and maintain our ISO 9001 accreditation.
She runs the studio with care, striving to look after the wellbeing of the team and ensuring the work place is a positive, welcoming environment.
She is responsible for HR, Finance, Health and Safety and the day to day running of the practice, and has been instrumental in helping us to gain and maintain our ISO 9001 accreditation.
Aliya Hossain MEng Project Engineer Aliya has seven design years’ experience, including four years in civil engineering before joining Structure Workshop in 2021.
She has worked on a wide range of technically demanding projects, including extended periods on site supporting construction works for the Thames Tideway Tunnel and Ipswich Tidal Barrier.
More recently, Aliya’s building experience covers a variety of landmark projects on both historic buildings and new-build structures, including the £20M refurbishment and extension of the Listed Frognal House, and the transformational Nature and Love project at the Horniman Museum in South London.
Aliya is organised, attentive, and always engaged with the technical detail. She leads Structure Workshop’s climate task force and manages the development of our widely used regarded Carbon Calculator.
Qualifications
MEng Civil Engineering 2018 Heriot-Watt University
She has worked on a wide range of technically demanding projects, including extended periods on site supporting construction works for the Thames Tideway Tunnel and Ipswich Tidal Barrier.
More recently, Aliya’s building experience covers a variety of landmark projects on both historic buildings and new-build structures, including the £20M refurbishment and extension of the Listed Frognal House, and the transformational Nature and Love project at the Horniman Museum in South London.
Aliya is organised, attentive, and always engaged with the technical detail. She leads Structure Workshop’s climate task force and manages the development of our widely used regarded Carbon Calculator.
Qualifications
MEng Civil Engineering 2018 Heriot-Watt University
Peter Laidler BEng CEng MICE Director Peter established Structure Workshop in 2004 and leads a team of engineers with a technically creative approach to design and a focus on low-carbon structural solutions.
Since inception the practice has collaborated with internationally recognised artists and architects, contributing to a diverse portfolio that spans contemporary architecture, heritage buildings, and large-scale sculpture.
Peter's professional experience in the arts and conservation is both broad and extensive. He has played a key role in numerous successfully completed projects on sites of national heritage and ecological significance, including works to Grade I listed structures, and installations in some of London’s most iconic institutions and public spaces.
In 2025 Peter was awarded the Milne Medal recognising excellence in structural engineering design.
Since inception the practice has collaborated with internationally recognised artists and architects, contributing to a diverse portfolio that spans contemporary architecture, heritage buildings, and large-scale sculpture.
Peter's professional experience in the arts and conservation is both broad and extensive. He has played a key role in numerous successfully completed projects on sites of national heritage and ecological significance, including works to Grade I listed structures, and installations in some of London’s most iconic institutions and public spaces.
In 2025 Peter was awarded the Milne Medal recognising excellence in structural engineering design.
Polly Natynczuk MEng Senior Engineer Polly is a talented engineer with seven years’ experience delivering a broad range of architectural projects, from the retrofit of historic buildings to the design of significant new-build commercial and residential schemes.
Since joining Structure Workshop in 2023, she has rapidly become a key member of the team and plays a central role in many of the practice’s most significant projects. She has expertise in structural timber design, contributing to several landmark schemes including the new Artplay Pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery, the site-wide transformation of Mansfield College in Oxford, and the design of student accommodation for Hughes Hall College in Cambridge.
Polly has a strong interest in computational design and sustainability. She is valued for her careful attention to detail, clear communication, and collaborative approach, all of which help ensure the smooth delivery of complex projects
Qualifications
MEng RIBA Part I Structural Engineering and Architecture 2019 University of Sheffield
Since joining Structure Workshop in 2023, she has rapidly become a key member of the team and plays a central role in many of the practice’s most significant projects. She has expertise in structural timber design, contributing to several landmark schemes including the new Artplay Pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery, the site-wide transformation of Mansfield College in Oxford, and the design of student accommodation for Hughes Hall College in Cambridge.
Polly has a strong interest in computational design and sustainability. She is valued for her careful attention to detail, clear communication, and collaborative approach, all of which help ensure the smooth delivery of complex projects
Qualifications
MEng RIBA Part I Structural Engineering and Architecture 2019 University of Sheffield
Ewan Penty Geraets MEng Project Engineer Ewan joined Structure Workshop in November 2024 after graduating from the Architecture MEng programme at the University of Leeds earlier that year.
Having apprenticed and worked as a helicopter mechanic before university, he has a practical engineering background.
Since joining he has worked on a gallery for Eastbourne Council, a winning competition entry for a new John Lobb workshop, and a private house in Dartmoor national park.
Qualifications
MEng (Hons) WhSch, 2024 University of Leeds
Having apprenticed and worked as a helicopter mechanic before university, he has a practical engineering background.
Since joining he has worked on a gallery for Eastbourne Council, a winning competition entry for a new John Lobb workshop, and a private house in Dartmoor national park.
Qualifications
MEng (Hons) WhSch, 2024 University of Leeds
Wanyi Yang MEng CEng MIStructE Senior Engineer Wanyi joined Structure Workshop in October 2025, bringing over eight years of experience delivering a diverse range of projects, from the refurbishment of existing buildings to new-build community, educational, and residential developments.
She began her career at Corbett & Tasker before she spent a year at Eckersley O’Callaghan, where she worked on projects across the UK and Asia broadening her technical knowledge in structural glass and specialist façade engineering.
Wanyi has a strong interest in timber engineering and sustainable construction. She takes a holistic approach to structural design which enables her to develop practical and low-carbon solutions across a range of building types. She is currently working on the Hughes Hall development at the University of Cambridge.
Qualifications MEng Civil Engineering
2017 University of Bristol
She began her career at Corbett & Tasker before she spent a year at Eckersley O’Callaghan, where she worked on projects across the UK and Asia broadening her technical knowledge in structural glass and specialist façade engineering.
Wanyi has a strong interest in timber engineering and sustainable construction. She takes a holistic approach to structural design which enables her to develop practical and low-carbon solutions across a range of building types. She is currently working on the Hughes Hall development at the University of Cambridge.
Qualifications MEng Civil Engineering
2017 University of Bristol
Alistair Frost MEng GMICE Project Engineer Alistair is a structural engineer whose background in complex glass and envelope design has given him a sharp eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the relationship between architecture and structure.
Over six years in practice, he has contributed to a diverse range of culturally significant and technically demanding projects – from the sensitive construction of a steel and glass stage above the archaeological remains of a 16th-century theatre stage at the Curtain Playhouse, to an arts installation celebrating benefactors of Imperial College London and the retrofit of the glazed roof structure above the central courtyard space at the National Maritime Museum.
He brings a considered, collaborative approach to every project, underpinned by a strong interest in computational design, sustainability and clarity of structure. He is passionate about engineering that is ambitious in design and efficient in material use.
Qualifications
MEng Civil Engineering with Architecture
2020 Glasgow University
Over six years in practice, he has contributed to a diverse range of culturally significant and technically demanding projects – from the sensitive construction of a steel and glass stage above the archaeological remains of a 16th-century theatre stage at the Curtain Playhouse, to an arts installation celebrating benefactors of Imperial College London and the retrofit of the glazed roof structure above the central courtyard space at the National Maritime Museum.
He brings a considered, collaborative approach to every project, underpinned by a strong interest in computational design, sustainability and clarity of structure. He is passionate about engineering that is ambitious in design and efficient in material use.
Qualifications
MEng Civil Engineering with Architecture
2020 Glasgow University