Black & White Engineering, a global engineering design consultancy specialising in mission-critical buildings and infrastructure, has grown its civil and structural team by 79%. The department has increased from 43 to 77 people in five months, with additional engineers joining its Dubai, Manila, Milan, London and Paris offices, alongside new bases in Manchester and Singapore.
The expansion reflects rising demand from data centre clients across established and emerging markets.
David Williams, Director of Civil and Structural Engineering at Black & White Engineering, said: “The growth reflects the continued expansion of our work in the data centre market, with both existing and new clients. That growth is creating opportunities for our civil and structural engineers across more locations and project types. We have built the team around experienced people, many of whom we have worked with successfully before or who have joined us following strong recommendations.”
The department supports projects from concept through to construction information, while also advising on site due diligence, feasibility studies and third-party technical reviews. It strengthens Black & White Engineering’s wider design offer by bringing civil, structural, MEP and design management expertise together within one project team.
David continued: “Detailed design delivery remains central to our role, but we are also being brought into projects much earlier, including due diligence, feasibility work and technical reviews. Working alongside our MEP and design management colleagues means we can provide input throughout the project, not just at fixed design stages. That helps improve coordination, quality and delivery for clients.”
The team is also reviewing third-party designs and, in some cases, taking responsibility for final delivery. This includes projects where civil, structural and MEP designs need to be more closely aligned, or where external sub-consultants are less familiar with specific client requirements and processes.
Demand is currently strongest across Europe, with activity increasing from southern to northern markets. In APAC, the business is pursuing opportunities in Japan and the Philippines, supported by its Singapore and Manila operations. The consultancy also plans to continue building its Singapore presence and expects to establish a civil and structural capability in its new Saudi Arabia office this year.
David added: “Civil and structural engineering is becoming a more important part of Black & White Engineering’s offer as data centre projects increase in scale, complexity and pace. Having this capability in-house means clients have access to a more joined-up design model, with civil, structural, MEP and design management expertise working together from an earlier stage. It also gives us greater consistency across regions, which is important for clients delivering programmes in multiple markets.”
The investment forms part of Black & White Engineering’s wider focus on building regional capability while drawing on the experience of its global team. The expanded team will support technically complex schemes within tighter programmes, while carrying lessons from previous projects into new work.
