Ameet leads our residential sector across the UK&I, collaborating with teams in project management, cost management, engineering and sustainability to deliver a wide range of residential projects that truly make a difference. Working with our clients across a range of residential asset classes, including housing, strategic land, later living, student accommodation, open market, build to rent, co-living, affordable, social, urban regeneration and city centre high-rise towers, his focus is on creating places that are practical, sustainable and built to last.

With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Ameet has led major residential and regeneration projects from concept to completion. His leadership approach combines commercial understanding with a strong commitment to quality, teamwork and doing things the right way, values he sees as essential to shaping the future of housing delivery.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I grew up in a thriving region where development and opportunity were part of everyday life.  From an early age, I was fascinated by how cities grow and evolve. That curiosity was fuelled further through international travel — visiting New York, San Francisco and Hong Kong — and gave me firsthand insight into how ambitious construction and planning can transform communities. Those experiences inspired my ambition to be part of shaping the built environment.

Academically, I had strengths in both numbers and literature. This naturally led me toward quantity surveying, contracts and procurement, disciplines that blend structure, logic and communication. Over time, that evolved into a passion for project management and delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects that bring teams together to achieve shared goals.

I’ve always felt a strong connection to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the professionalism it represents. I take pride in upholding traditional values of accuracy, integrity and accountability. For me, success is as much about how we deliver projects as what we deliver.

What are the biggest issues currently facing the residential sector?

The residential sector continues to face a series of evolving pressures that affect both project viability and delivery.

Viability remains a key consideration, shaped by the cost of finance and rising labour, material and plant costs. Together, these influence scheme viability and investment confidence, particularly in higher-cost markets.

Planning processes also continue to extend project timelines, requiring early coordination and realistic programming to maintain momentum. In addition, the implementation of the Building Safety Act has introduced new stages and requirements that form an important part of ensuring safe design and construction. While essential for compliance, these processes, including updated design measures such as second staircases and Gateway 2 reviews, can add time to project programmes and require proactive management across all parties.

Another key factor is the skills shortage across the UK construction industry, which continues to impact delivery capacity. This has encouraged the sector to think more innovatively about how we design and build, exploring new methods to increase efficiency, consistency and quality. I have been involved in several projects adopting modern methods of construction, which not only help to address resource challenges but also drive improved sustainability outcomes and predictability in delivery. By constantly challenging design and embracing innovation, we can unlock real value for clients and create more resilient project models for the future.

Finally, sustainability continues to drive change. Clients and developers are setting ambitious goals around carbon reduction, circular economy principles and social value. Balancing these aspirations with cost and delivery pressures requires innovation, collaboration and strong technical leadership across every stage of development.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work on a range of projects that have brought lasting benefit to local communities, from housing and regeneration to specialist living and even the London 2012 Olympics, which has left a distinct legacy.

A particular area I’m passionate about is later living, having delivered several large retirement village developments designed to connect senior residents to their local communities through place, amenities and shared outdoor spaces. These projects provide environments where people can live independently while remaining active, engaged and connected to others, something that has a real social impact beyond the buildings themselves.

I’ve also been involved in several student accommodation campus and apartment build to rent projects, which have helped define a new generation of living. By integrating amenities such as music studios, cafés, shared lounges and landscaped public realm, these developments have created communities and enhanced the student and professional experience.

Most recently, I’ve worked on the Smithfield Birmingham masterplan with Lendlease, a landmark regeneration project at the heart of the city. Achieving planning consent for this major scheme was a significant milestone, paving the way to transform underused land into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood. With construction now progressing into the build-out phases, it’s exciting to see that vision becoming a reality.

Across all these projects, the unifying theme is collaboration, working with clients, local authorities and residents to deliver places that have a positive and enduring impact on people’s lives.

Share a piece of career advice.

My advice to anyone in this industry is to stay engaged, open-minded and reflective. Every project, conversation or client interaction offers a chance to learn something new. Even the small moments can teach you how to communicate, adapt or solve problems more effectively.

Seek out hands-on experience early in your career. Spending time on site builds a real understanding of how projects are delivered and gives you confidence in your decision making.

Take every opportunity to gain early exposure and learn from senior professionals. Sit alongside partners and directors, observe how they think, lead and build relationships. Those lessons in judgement and communication are invaluable.

Take pride in your work, whatever the task may be. The quality of your outputs, from reports to presentations, reflects your professionalism. Always take a client-first approach, pausing to understand the world from their perspective.

Equally important is developing strong people skills. You’ll work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and cultures, both locally and internationally. Being able to connect, communicate and collaborate effectively is at the heart of successful project delivery.

And above all, enjoy what you do. When you’re genuinely passionate about your work, that enthusiasm shines through in the outcomes you deliver and the teams you lead. Passion is what sustains a career in construction and what makes it so rewarding.

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For Monica Wilson, history isn’t just something to read about, it’s something to uncover, preserve, and share with communities. Monica has spent the past decade ensuring the stories embedded in our built environment remain part of the places we live, work and travel. Her passion for history shines through in every project, helping keep California’s rich heritage alive and accessible today, and for generations to come.

Tell us a bit about yourself — your role and career journey.

I’ve been with ArchTam since 2015, and it’s been an incredible journey. Before joining the team, I worked on historic preservation projects that first sparked my passion for protecting cultural resources. I grew up in Southern California and later headed north for graduate school at California State University in Sacramento, where I focused on historic preservation, and the history of the American West and California. That background gave me a strong foundation and ultimately led me to a career in historic preservation.

Most days start with research and planning, but that’s just a piece of the work. I spend a lot of time out in the field, boots on the ground, documenting resources and figuring out how projects might impact them. Tribal outreach is another important part of my work, making sure we honor and respect cultural heritage throughout the process. We support agencies meet their Federal regulatory responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and often work closely with agencies like the Federal Transit Administration, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the National Park Service, and local agencies. It’s work that combines technical expertise with storytelling and that balance is what keeps me passionate about what I do.

Transportation projects have been a major part of my career, and I’m thankful to be working in California where the highway system is one of the most intricate and expansive in the nation. I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects where even the roadway itself is historic, traversing districts that tell stories of engineering feats and cultural evolution.

Every project is a chance to protect history while supporting progress, and that’s what makes this work so meaningful to me.

How do you incorporate community involvement into your work?

Community is at the heart of historic preservation. It’s not just about old buildings, there are so many resource types we analyze, including landscapes, bridges, roads, dams, canals, farms and utilities, that hold meaning for the people who live there. These resources are often the lifeblood of neighborhoods, symbols people connect with and care deeply about.

One of my favorite parts of the job is uncovering stories that even longtime locals didn’t know existed. Sharing those discoveries is so rewarding, especially when clients incorporate them into interpretive panels or websites that offer such a public benefit and celebrate local history.

Southern California is where this work feels especially personal for me. I was born and raised in Riverside County, and the region’s diversity of resources and communities makes every project unique. From Los Angeles to the Inland Empire to San Diego, I’ve seen firsthand how our work impacts communities in meaningful ways.

Preserving the look and feel of a corridor or integrating historic buildings into modern designs helps maintain a sense of place.

Talk to us about a project that has been a major highlight of your career.

Two projects stand out for me. The first is our ongoing work at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center, where we’ve surveyed numerous historic-age properties across the campus. Each with its own story about America’s space program and scientific innovation. This long-term effort, which began in 2014, is providing Section 106 compliance services for facility improvements to further cutting-edge research, all while preserving their historic integrity. It’s a fascinating intersection of science, design, history and innovation.

Another highlight was the cultural resources effort following the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles. Our team worked quickly to document the historic properties within the impacted communities, like the Andrew McNally House in Altadena and the Department of Water and Power Distributing Station No. 29 in Palisades, both of which were designed by master architect Frederick Roehrig. Our team provided monitoring during the private property debris removal process to protect archaeological sites. The work was challenging, but documenting the area’s history ensures that even after loss, communities can continue to honor and celebrate their heritage.

Share a piece of career advice.

One of the most rewarding parts of this work is helping position people for success and supporting young professionals as they grow. My best advice is to get to know your team and their strengths. Cultural resource management is complex, no one person can do it all. If you don’t know how to do something, know who to ask. Collaboration is key, and watching a well-coordinated team tackle challenges efficiently is both inspiring and a reminder that great outcomes come from leveraging collective expertise.

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In his keynote, “Platform-based Construction Ecosystems”, Marc Colella, Strategy and Growth Lead Asia and ANZ, and ArchTam Fellow, examined how emerging technologies and global best practices can help global cities like Hong Kong build faster, cleaner and more sustainably.

Like many global cities, Hong Kong faces a challenging paradox: demand for high-quality, affordable housing is increasing, yet traditional construction methods are struggling to meet timelines, cost expectations and sustainability requirements. Across the industry, skilled labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and rising carbon targets are adding further pressure.

Key drivers guiding housing innovation and system reform

The shift toward an industrialized, platform-based housing model is guided by a set of core objectives that align productivity, cost, sustainability and quality with long-term public needs.  These include:

• Speed and efficiency – Improving delivery productivity to meet urgent housing demand.
• Cost-effectiveness – Reducing overall costs through scalable, repeatable and pipeline-aligned solutions.
• Sustainability – Supporting net-zero goals through low-carbon, circular and resilient design approaches.
• Technology integration – Using a unified digital platform to enhance outcomes across the full value chain.
• Social outcomes – Elevating livability, adaptability and long-term maintenance performance.
• Governance and quality – Strengthening approval processes and quality control through offsite manufacturing.

Emerging trends and constraints in the housing ecosystem

The global housing sector is being reshaped by intensifying pressures, including persistent productivity declines, skilled labor shortages, rising material costs and widening supply–demand gaps, all of which are driving a need to transform construction practices. At the same time, decarbonization imperatives and rapid digital transformation are compelling the industry to rethink conventional delivery models. Despite this momentum, significant challenges continue that constrain adoption. There are still gaps in regulatory frameworks in many jurisdictions, creating uncertainty around approvals and long-term policy commitments, supply chain fragmentation, while concerns around durability and design flexibility influence public and private acceptance. Developers face difficulties achieving cost certainty without stable volume pipelines, and manufacturers must contend with the operational demands of automation, workforce reskilling and maintaining consistent quality control across extended supply chains. Collectively, these trends and challenges illustrate both the urgency of industrialized housing innovation and the systemic barriers that must be addressed to achieve scale.

Insights from global industrialization efforts

International case studies such as Katerra, a Silicon Valley-based construction technology startup aiming to become world’s largest builder highlight both the promise and the limits of construction of industrialization. Early large-scale disruptors showed that technological ambition must be matched by strong execution, local adaptability and disciplined scaling. Models built on distributed micro-factories, repeatable product platforms and experienced delivery partners consistently outperformed fully centralized approaches, demonstrating that industrialization succeeds when it evolves incrementally and integrates seamlessly with existing industry structures.

Examples from modular programs in the UK, such as Camp Hill, Birmingham’s flagship modular build-to-rent project, as well as the global automotive, aerospace and shipbuilding industries reinforce the same message. Standardized chassis systems, digital catalogues and factory-built assemblies have accelerated delivery and improved quality, yet challenges remain around logistics, supply chain resilience and project complexity. A prime example of this is Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y personalization — which share 75 percent of components, use software-enabled features, and are built on flexible lines that adjust automatically for different models — cutting waste, labor and assembly time while doubling output.

Other advanced manufacturing sectors, especially in cruise ships cabins, show what is achievable when precision, modularity and platform thinking are embedded at scale — offering a clear blueprint for how construction can achieve similar gains through digitized design, coordinated production and integrated assembly.

Advances in prefabricated components and engineered materials play a central role in the shift toward industrialized housing delivery. Global delivery experience demonstrates that lightweight steel frames, composite sub-assemblies, precast elements, bathroom pods and 2D panelized systems can significantly enhance performance when designed for factory-led workflows. These components enable faster installation, lower embodied carbon, reduced site waste, improved safety and greater consistency in long-term maintenance. ArchTam’s former offsite construction ecosystem platform ‘Inno’ further illustrates how digital design, manufacturing intelligence and supply chain optimization can operate as an integrated system by connecting component standardization with production efficiency to support scalable, repeatable and high-quality housing delivery.

How digital ecosystems unlock scalable housing delivery

A unified digital backbone is essential to scaling platform-based construction, linking policy, design, manufacturing, logistics, assembly and operations into a single data-driven workflow.

Digital permitting, automated compliance and blockchain certification accelerate approvals and feed directly into AI-enabled BIM, generative design and digital twin modelling, producing fabrication-ready designs optimized for performance and manufacturability.

Industry 4.0 factories then translate this intelligence into precision-built components through robotics, computer-vision quality control and automated production systems, supported by AI-driven logistics and real-time traceability. On-site, robotic assembly and IoT monitoring provide faster, safer installation with continuous performance visibility. Together, these integrated layers enable 20–30 percent cost reductions, 40–50 percent faster timelines and up to 80 percent less waste, while strengthening the potential for new export-oriented manufacturing.

The benefits extend across sustainability and people outcomes. Industrialized systems can halve embodied carbon, reduce lifecycle energy costs and deliver more consistent safety and quality. At the same time, new technology-focused roles are created, elevating workforce skills and fostering a more collaborative, data-led construction culture.

What comes next?

To accelerate this transition, there are several practical next steps:

• Digitize and standardize design guidelines into a unified kit-of-parts catalogue.
• Adopt a tiered production model, distributing fabrication across suppliers, sub-assemblers and co-located facilities.
• Modernize permitting and certification through automated, digital-first regulatory processes.
• Invest in local micro-factories to strengthen resilience and shorten lead times.
• Expand workforce development to equip practitioners with robotics, AI, Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and digital management skills.

With coordinated action, cities such as Hong Kong can set a new global benchmark for how they deliver high-quality, sustainable housing at scale.

Contact Marc Colella to learn more.

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Stadiums and venues are more than just structures — they are cultural landmarks that bring communities together, inspire loyalty and create lasting memories. As we look to the future, the challenge lies in redefining these spaces to meet evolving expectations while embedding sustainability, technology and inclusivity into every aspect of their design and operation.

Key challenges in reimagining the fan experience

The fan experience is no longer a one-size-fits-all journey. Fans today demand personalization, seamless engagement and opportunities to co-create their experience. At the same time, venues must address broader societal goals, such as reducing embodied carbon, integrating sustainable technologies and fostering community connections.

Our approach focuses on crafting spaces that balance economic output with emotional resonance. Whether designing new stadiums or renovating existing ones, the goal is to create venues that reflect the identity of the city, its people and its culture, hence making them irreplaceable.

Elevating fan journeys through innovation

To reimagine and elevate the fan experience, we prioritize innovation across the entire lifecycle of venue design and operation, focusing on 3 key areas:

1. Personalization and inclusivity:

• Every fan should feel seen and valued. By mapping diverse fan journeys, we create opportunities for engagement and re-engagement, ensuring that each touchpoint resonates with the individual.
• From immersive screens to strategic hospitality moments, technology amplifies the experience without overshadowing the venue’s unique character.

2. Seamless integration of technology:

• Digital tools act as amplifiers, enhancing the physical experience rather than replacing it. Smart controls, immersive displays and interactive touchpoints are strategically integrated to elevate the fan journey.
• Future proofing venues means building for long-term adaptability while planning for rapid change at 5-, 10-, and 15-year intervals — reflecting how dramatically fan expectations have already shifted in the past five years.

3. Sustainability and circularity:

• By embedding sustainability into every stage  —from design to operations — we ensure venues remain resilient and impactful for generations to come.

Sustainability is also about future proofing. That means creating adaptable spaces and digital systems that evolve with the club and the fans. The most sustainable venues are active 365 days a year — hosting events, hospitality, community programming and content creation.

A sustainable stadium isn’t just energy efficient; it’s revenue efficient. And whether it’s a renovation or new build, the goal is a venue that stays relevant, flexible and connected.

Rethinking renovation for cohesion

Whether designing a new stadium or renovating an existing one, it’s important to create cohesion across the fan experience and tell a connected story. Every visit should offer opportunities for re-engagement, so fans feel like they are experiencing something new each time.

Every touchpoint along the fan journey should feel intentional, part of a seamless, holistic experience that increases dwell time, loyalty and ultimately drives revenue. The next generation of stadiums should not be defined by capacity, but by connectivity and by the ability to create moments that excite fans, elevate technology, and let them feel like co-creators in the experience.

Renovations can also be smart, sustainable moves, offering lower embodied carbon and potentially higher return on investment (ROI), but in all cases, the goal remains the same: to connect the economic output with the emotional output, building loyalty that sustains both fans and the project.

Connectivity builds community The future of stadium design lies in creating spaces that are both functional and unforgettable. By thoughtfully integrating design, technology and sustainability, venues can evolve alongside changing expectations, offering fans moments that resonate, inspire loyalty and invite repeated engagement. The most successful stadiums will be those that balance economic performance with emotional impact, creating spaces that reflect the culture of their communities while remaining adaptable for decades to come.

Connect with Andrea to learn more about our global Sports team.

The post Transforming stadiums and arenas into next-generation experiences appeared first on Blog.

You’ve worked on major sports venues globally. What lessons from these projects do you bring to new developments?

Each new venue raises the bar in terms of design ambition, technology integration and user expectations. Allianz Arena was groundbreaking in the use of ETFE in its façade, which not only gives it its iconic visual identity but makes it highly durable. AAMI Park, with its lighter yet complex roof, pushed the boundaries on structural analysis and optimisation.

These experiences have shaped our approach to projects like Macquarie Point Stadium, where we’ve combined lessons from innovations on past projects with cutting-edge tools to understand occupant comfort and pitch performance and test different stadium forms until we find the best based on structure, performance, cost and aesthetic. The focus is always on elevating the fan experience, embedding flexibility for future uses, and ensuring the venue can adapt to evolving event formats and technologies.

How do you ensure stadium designs cater to both spectators and athletes?

Over a typical 3–4-year design and construction process, technology and user expectations evolve significantly. The design needs to anticipate how future technologies may impact the built form and how spectators experience the venue.

At Macquarie Point Stadium, we placed significant emphasis on comfort modelling to ensure all public areas are welcoming all year-round. This caters to interstate travellers who expect a similar fan experience to what they are offered in their home city. Our design prioritised intuitive circulation, quick egress, universal access and proximity to food and beverage, all within a distinctive architectural setting. For athletes, we designed high-performance environments: generous change facilities with dedicated physio/strapping area, aqua recovery, optimal playing surfaces, airflow and temperature control, and secure, efficient arrival and departure routes.

Increasingly, venues are designed to foster closer interaction between fans and athletes, with premium experiences, such as field club lounges, and pitch-side access. Event overlay flexibility is also critical to support a wide range of uses beyond sport.

How do you maximise value while balancing functionality, sustainability and long-term operational costs?

Technology has transformed how we design. We can test and iterate far more options than ever before, allowing us to optimise for performance, cost and sustainability.

A multidisciplinary, integrated design approach is best, bringing together architecture, engineering and specialist disciplines under strong design leadership. This is the right approach for coordination across technical disciplines and delivers the best project outcomes.

At Macquarie Point Stadium, sustainability was embedded into the design from the start. We assessed embodied carbon across design options, giving the client clear visibility into the environmental and financial impacts of every decision. Passive design strategies and efficient spatial planning also help reduce the venue’s long-term operational costs. A venue’s unique architectural identity and adaptability can drive long-term value by attracting more events. A durable, future-proof design reduces maintenance costs.

How do you design sports and entertainment venues to serve their communities well beyond the initial investment? 

Flexibility is key. Venues must be able to evolve to suit different event types, audience sizes and community needs. Equal access is a non-negotiable. Everyone, regardless of mobility and ability, deserves an unforgettable fan experience.

We also activate the venue’s perimeter to create a vibrant precinct, even on non-event days, integrating retail, hospitality and community spaces for year-round entertainment, quality of life benefits and economic value for vendors and the city. Holistic precinct planning ensures the venue is embedded in its urban context, with strong connections to public and active transport routes, and other commonly frequented, surrounding public spaces. Function spaces are designed for versatility, supporting everything from grassroots sport to major events.

At Macquarie Point Stadium and its surrounding precinct, features like The Goods Shed (historically used for railway operations and redeveloped into a hub for a range of entertainment events), the signature roof design, and proximity to the CBD help create a unique identity, sense of place and connection to other spaces.

What excites you most about future sports and entertainment infrastructure in Australia? 

Australia’s approach to sports infrastructure is unique. Unlike international markets, where venues are driven by franchise success, many Australian venues are publicly funded and deeply connected to their communities. The MCG is a great example: iconic not just for one team, but as a shared cultural landmark. This shapes how we design, focusing on inclusivity, affordability and broad appeal. Australia’s strong sporting culture that permeates across all cities, regions and towns means there’s ongoing demand for high-quality venues that meet modern fan expectations, even outside of major cities.

Events like the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games will catalyse a new wave of investment, not just in Brisbane, but across the country. This presents a tremendous opportunity to renew our national infrastructure and attract global entertainment acts. It’s an exciting time to design venues that are accessible, functional and culturally significant.

Describe the feeling you get when you sit in a stadium you’ve designed, as a fan.

When I am in a venue I designed, I initially can’t stop myself from ‘inspecting’ some of the key details that took time and thinking to resolve. But after some time, I settle and enjoy the event and experience of the space. The memories of the design and the construction process often remain vivid.

It’s rewarding to see something that I spent years imagining come to life. Observing how large crowds share experiences and enjoy the space in the way it was anticipated brings me joy and pride.

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In this blog, Marc Colella, ArchTam Fellow, examines how digital innovation can help cities and portfolio owners accelerate their net-zero transition while safeguarding long-term value and livability.

What’s the urgency?

The built environment remains responsible for nearly 40 percent of global carbon emissions, making it both a major contributor to climate change and a crucial lever for mitigation. Although progress has been made — the sector’s carbon share has dropped from 39 to 37 percent in just five years, energy intensity is down 15 percent since 2010, and renewables now supply almost one-third of global electricity — the momentum remains uneven. High retrofit costs, regulatory complexity and rising investor expectations are placing pressure on portfolio owners to act decisively.

Key barriers to portfolio decarbonization

The pathway to portfolio decarbonization remains constrained by several persistent challenges, especially related to mobilizing technology. The four digital and systemic barriers that must be overcome to unlock large-scale transformation are:

1. Data fragmentation – Asset-level carbon and energy data is often trapped in silos across diverse geographies, sectors and standards.
2. Regulatory complexity – Over 40 national carbon regulations exist worldwide, each with distinct formats, verification processes and disclosure requirements that complicate cross-market alignment.
3. Scope 3 tracking – Indirect emissions, often forming the majority of a portfolio’s carbon footprint, remain largely untracked or inconsistently measured.
4. Technology infrastructure – Many organizations still rely on disconnected digital tools. Scaling a digital platform across markets with different cybersecurity and data laws is a significant undertaking.

Despite these challenges, the pace of digital evolution in the built environment offers reasons for optimism. Over the past decade, the industry has moved from static spreadsheets to predictive digital twins, and from manual compliance to AI-powered climate intelligence capable of optimizing investments in real time.

The next frontier is integration, which includes building scalable ecosystems that link data, technology and human insight. This approach allows for simulation, planning and action across entire portfolios, which then turns decarbonization from a fragmented exercise into a coordinated, data-driven strategy.

Portfolio Decarbonization Transformative Framework

To guide this transition, we’ve developed a Portfolio Decarbonization Transformative Framework, mapping five domains where digital transformation must occur simultaneously for decarbonization to reach its full potential. Each domain connects people, processes and technologies in one shared ecosystem, ensuring that every stakeholder from portfolio managers to facility operators can act on consistent, real-time insights.

The potential benefits are clear:

• 35 percent reduction in operational emissions.
• 40 percent higher return on investment (ROI) on capital works.
• 95 percent faster regulatory reporting.

The framework also underpins our pioneering work in Portfolio Carbon Capital Optimization, an approach that integrates financial and carbon intelligence to optimize investment decisions across complex asset portfolios.

Turning strategy into action: The role of digital twins

The Portfolio Carbon Capital Optimization Framework is a digital planning twin designed to optimize both carbon reduction and cost performance across entire asset portfolios. It unites a suite of analytical tools within a shared data ecosystem, enabling portfolio and facility managers to make coordinated, data-driven decisions. Using an optimization algorithm, it generates capital works programs that balance carbon reduction, cost efficiency, and compliance priorities.

By connecting users, tools and data across disciplines and systems through a centralized data lake, the platform delivers consistent, real-time insights across all assets, thus transforming strategy into actionable and financially defensible pathways toward net zero. Beyond portfolio management, it also serves as a model for how city-scale digital ecosystems can inform infrastructure planning, energy transitions and investment prioritization.

Advancing the decarbonization agenda

Accelerating decarbonization requires more than technology. It requires commitment, leadership and systems thinking. Resilient city-making is a collective endeavor, driven by the shared goal of achieving a net-zero, inclusive urban future.

So, what are some of the next steps the industry can take?

• Approach decarbonization as a portfolio-wide challenge, not an individual asset issue.
• Establish a digital framework that unifies data, personas and outcomes.
• Align capital programs with carbon optimization, prioritizing the execution of projects with the lowest returns to maximize overall impact.
• Adopt an open ecosystem approach — recognizing that no single technology or organization can deliver the full solution alone.

Our work alongside clients, governments and industry partners helps to turn climate goals into actionable pathways — helping shape cities that are not only decarbonized, but also equitable, connected and ready for the future.

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Anthony is the Hotel sector lead for ArchTam’s Buildings + Places business in Europe. Based in the South East of the UK, he has a background in mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) engineering. He has delivered complex hospitality projects, combining technical expertise with a strong focus on client vision, commercial strategy and the delivery of high-quality, efficient buildings.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I initially began my career working for an MEP contractor before moving into engineering consultancy. That practical foundation has shaped how I approach design to this day. Understanding how systems are installed and commissioned in the real world has been a huge asset — especially on complex heritage buildings, where coordination is critical, and space is at a premium.

What really drew me in, and continues to drive me, is the collaborative nature of this industry. No successful projects happen in isolation — it takes designers, contractors, and clients all working together with a shared vision. I’ve always enjoyed being part of that team effort.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

This has to be Raffles London at The OWO — a landmark transformation of the Old War Office in Whitehall into a luxury hotel and residences. The heritage, complexity, and ambition behind the project made it truly special.

The building’s historic status presented a number of technical challenges, particularly around spatial coordination, sustainability and the need to completely conceal services while delivering modern luxury standards. We embraced early-stage 3D design to resolve these constraints, using the latest digital tools at ArchTam’s disposal to accurately and quickly co-ordinate our services working closely with the design team to ensure nothing compromised the integrity or aesthetics of the building.

What really made the project stand out was how we delivered it — as One ArchTam. We brought together a global team working across time zones, with specialists from the UK and India all having a key input into the delivery of the project from completion to handover.

The finished result speaks for itself. It’s a once-in-a-generation project that sets a new benchmark for heritage-led luxury and I’m incredibly proud that ArchTam played such a pivotal role in making it a reality.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

On one of my first projects at ArchTam, I worked on a small but meaningful project — a primary school near an airport that had no openable windows due to noise constraints. The challenge was to design a ventilation system that would keep classrooms comfortable, healthy and well-ventilated despite being in a sealed environment and right under the flight path.

We developed a low-energy mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, ensuring excellent air quality and thermal comfort without any reliance on natural ventilation. For the school, it meant pupils could concentrate and learn in a calm, well-ventilated environment all year round — without the roar of aircraft interrupting lessons!

This system had a real, tangible impact on the children, teachers and local community at that school. Projects like that remind you why what we do matters and is impactful.

Share a piece of career advice.

Build your mindset around client needs. When engaging with them, start by listening. Understand what they’re trying to achieve. The best outcomes are achieved when we align our expertise with their goals and focus on how we can support them — not just deliver a scope but add real value.

That mindset also applies within our teams. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask “why?”— why are we doing it this way, why not try something better, why does this matter to the end user? Stay curious, stay engaged and keep learning from the people around you.

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Jeff Chan is a structural engineer with five years of experience specializing in the transportation and water/wastewater sectors. Since joining ArchTam in 2020 as a structural designer, he has contributed to building projects across Canada, gaining expertise in seismic design and integration of diverse structural materials in buildings.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I was born in Hong Kong, a region renowned for its rapid infrastructure development, and spent my early childhood immersed in a constantly evolving urban landscape. For the first nine years of my life, this rapid urban growth felt normal. It wasn’t until my family immigrated to Canada that I began to recognize how unique and complex such development was, especially in densely populated areas. This realization sparked my curiosity about the built environment and a deep appreciation for the role infrastructure plays in shaping quality of life. That early insight, combined with an interest in thoughtful, impactful design, inspired me to pursue a career in engineering.

At ArchTam, I was fortunate to have a flexible full-time schedule, which allowed me to pursue graduate studies part-time. The combination of academic learning and guidance from knowledgeable, supportive colleagues and mentors helped me sharpen my technical skills, expand my confidence, and step into greater responsibilities.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to many meaningful projects at ArchTam, but the Capital Line South Extension has been one of the most rewarding experiences so far. I’ve served as the structural engineer and was also part of the pursuit team for the Operations and Maintenance Facility, which was one of the key components of this major design-build project.

What made this project stand out for me was the collaborative spirit from day one. We worked closely with an engaged client and a talented multidisciplinary team to develop conceptual designs, propose creative solutions, and shape a design that helped win the project. The strength of our design stemmed from the close collaboration we maintained with the builder throughout the process. We were aligned in our goals and challenges which allowed us to understand and share concerns around key issues such as material costs, construction sequencing, and overall constructability. By maintaining open lines of communication and working through these issues collaboratively, we were able to tailor our design approach to directly support their needs. This provided a smoother transition from design to construction, minimized surprises in the field, and fostered an integrated, solution-focused team dynamic.

This environment of trust and intensive multi-disciplinary coordination left a lasting impact on how I approach design thinking and cross-disciplinary teamwork.

The project was awarded in mid-2024 and is now in the construction phase. I’m excited to continue my contribution to a project that will help shape the future of transit in Edmonton and look forward to seeing our work take shape on site.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

One of the most rewarding experiences of my career has been contributing to the structural design of the Warehouse Park Pavilion in downtown Edmonton. What was once a stretch of surface parking lots is being transformed into a vibrant, community-focused park. The striking new pavilion structure anchors a revitalized green space in the city’s core.

The pavilion’s cantilevered, barrel-vaulted roof is framed with wood trusses, curved plywood sheathing, and is supported by steel beams and columns. This serves as both a functional shelter and an architectural statement. Its irregular geometry presented a complex structural challenge, requiring close collaboration with a senior ArchTam engineer and an award-winning architect to develop a solution that balanced durability, cost and design intent. Several roof design iterations were explored during the conceptual and design phases, considering concrete, steel and wood systems. Ultimately, we formed the barrel vault using prefabricated wood trusses and curved plywood, while the cantilever was framed with steel beams which leverages the versatility of wood and the strength of steel. Following the construction award for this design-bid-build project, we engaged early with the contractor to review the framing design. With input from carpenters and site supervisors, we refined details to enhance constructability and confirm accurate execution of the complex geometry.

What makes this project especially meaningful is knowing how the community will engage with the space once it’s fully redeveloped. Whether its families enjoying the shade in the summer, visitors gathering around the fireplaces in the winter, or individuals seeking a quiet moment in the heart of the city, it’s incredibly fulfilling to know that the structure the team designed will become a part of people’s everyday experiences. That kind of lasting, human impact is exactly what inspired me to pursue engineering.

Share a piece of career advice.

My best advice would be to ask questions, stay open to the perspectives of other building disciplines or contractors, and shape your design to anticipate their needs. What may initially seem like an impossible design challenge within your own discipline can often be resolved through collaboration with others who bring different skills and expertise to the table. Each discipline, whether it’s architectural, structural, mechanical, or electrical, has its own approach to solving problems and its own set of needs. By considering end user, contractor and discipline perspectives early in the design process, you can create more effective and integrated solutions that benefit the entire project.

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We’re spotlighting our Veterans Champion and project manager from our Buildings and Places business in the UK, Thomas Westlake, whose experience and continued contributions are helping shape how we support veterans across our organization. Their insight is helping us build a more inclusive, resilient, and supportive workplace for those transitioning from military to industry life.

Thomas Westlake is from our Project Management team in London and works predominantly in the Security and Resilience sector. He has been with ArchTam since 2023, following a career in the British Armed Forces. Thomas works on projects across government, public sector, defense, and disaster management, coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders and teams. His projects have been across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

After serving in the British Army for eight years, I was eager to find a career where I could apply the skills I had developed and continue doing work that made a real difference. A friend who was working at ArchTam at the time introduced me to the company. What stood out was the scale of the projects, the global footprint, and the opportunity to contribute to work with real-world impact, particularly in areas like infrastructure, security, and resilience. Project management felt like a natural transition from the armed forces, and ArchTam offered the structure and opportunities to grow in that space. My role within the defence and government sectors allows me to contribute to meaningful projects in the UK and overseas. It’s rewarding to be part of efforts that help safeguard communities and protect national interests while supporting international efforts to foster resilience and enhance security.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

One of my most fulfilling projects was delivering a resilience assessment of six emergency shelters in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These shelters are crucial during hurricane season, providing protection to local communities when extreme weather hits. I led the assessment on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), working closely with some outstanding specialist consultants, local government representatives, and community leaders.

Our team conducted on-the-ground inspections, assessing compliance of six key areas: structural integrity, fire safety, hygiene facilities, security, accessibility, and gender sensitivity. We also reviewed emergency plans and practices and spoke with key stakeholders and residents to understand local needs and context.

What I enjoyed most was the challenge of building trust quickly, navigating cultural differences, and shaping practical, community-led solutions. Based on our findings, we made clear, actionable recommendations, ranging from structural improvements to clearer roles, better coordination between agencies, and enhancements to better support women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

The project helped strengthen local preparedness by addressing key vulnerabilities ahead of the next hurricane season and empowering local teams to lead the changes. It was a project where the impact was clear, the collaboration was strong, and the work genuinely helped improve readiness on the ground. That made it a particularly rewarding experience for me.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

After being appointed Veterans Champion for ArchTam, I have taken a leading role in organising the ArchTam Armed Forces and Veteran Industry Insight Programme in the UK and Ireland. This initiative was developed to support individuals transitioning from military to industry careers by providing a platform to explore opportunities and access a dedicated support network.

The event highlighted diverse career pathways and demonstrated our ongoing commitment to veterans, service leavers, and reservists through targeted training, mentoring and advocacy. It underscored the wide range of roles available across the organisation and the broader industry — from project management to leadership positions — many of which align closely with the skills veterans bring from their military service.

The event also created a valuable space for attendees to connect with industry professionals, gain insights into civilian work environments, and explore new career possibilities. A key focus was on recognising and translating the transferable skills veterans possess — such as leadership, problem-solving, resilience and teamwork — into meaningful opportunities in the industry workforce.

The event’s success was reflected in the positive feedback we received and the stories of participants who left with renewed confidence, many now actively considering careers in project management. Looking ahead, we are committed to building on this momentum. I have begun developing an internal veterans’ network to foster a sense of community, provide peer support, and ensure that the voices and experiences of veterans are reflected across the organisation.

Share a piece of career advice

Embrace transferable skills and be open to new opportunities. My transition from the British Army to project management wasn’t straightforward. No matter where you start or what your background is, the experiences you’ve gained and skills you have developed are often more transferable than you realise, trust in them and don’t hesitate to step outside your comfort zone.

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A Chartered Engineer with 25 years’ experience, Jon is based in our London office and leads our Sports + Entertainment sector for UK&I, Europe, Middle East and Africa and is connected to our wider Global Sports practice bringing extensive knowledge on the latest trends in venue design.

Jon has carried out the role of Project Director on many of ArchTam’s most complex and iconic building schemes in the UK and internationally. He also leads a specialist team experienced in long span roof, advanced geometry and complex structural modelling, façade engineering and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) design.

What drives your approach to delivering high-performance sports venues, and how has your role shaped that?

Sports and stadium projects are highly complex, weaving together a myriad of technical challenges, fast-paced environments and multiple stakeholders often with very different drivers and interests. Leading these projects requires a strong combination of people management, technical insight and commitment. 

Over 15 years, I’ve grown from structural engineer to leading multi-discipline teams and acting as design delivery director for many major projects. I currently lead ArchTam’s Sports and Entertainment Sector across Europe and the Middle East, working predominantly on the design of major venues. I’ve been lucky enough to work on notable projects in the UK and Ireland, including the new Power Court Stadium for Luton Town Football Club, Windsor Park and the Curragh Racecourse. I’ve also delivered venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016, FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, and multiple developments across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia and Australia.

For clients, stadiums are often once-in-a-generation investments. Success depends on early-stage clarity in team setup, project briefing and business case alignment. My goal is for our team to become a trusted partner to our clients — a focused group of experienced designers, advisors, and decision-makers who bring in the right specialists at the right time to deliver maximum value from project inception through to construction and operation.

I’ve had the privilege of working with —and learning from — some of the industry’s most talented designers and consultants, both at ArchTam and through our world-class collaborators and partners. Leading high-performing teams and mentoring emerging leaders has been a particularly rewarding part of my journey.

From a delivery perspective, what does it take to create a stadium that reflects its local community while meeting global standards for fan experience?

Every sports client has its own unique history, geographical connection, and relationship with its fans and their communities. At the same time, clubs and venue operators are increasingly looking to host ever more ambitious and inclusive event programmes that appeal to diverse audiences and users. As designers, we help our clients navigate complex commercial pressures and deliver assets that are both commercially viable and aligned with their long-term goals.  

Venues must engage the next generation of tech-savvy supporters while preserving traditional matchday experiences. Our experience working on major events and multi-purpose community venues helps ensure our designs deliver the best of both digital and physical fan experiences while being flexible enough to adapt to changing needs over time.

We are currently designing Luton Town FC’s Power Court Stadium in collaboration with SISA and Klaska. It is a strong example of how a stadium can become an integrated piece of civic architecture and urban design, respecting the site’s rich history while navigating complex constraints. We collaborated closely with the Club and project team to deliver a fast-track planning submission, supporting their significant investment in stakeholder and community engagement to secure a smooth path through the approvals process. While the stadium itself will enable the latest in technology — AV, lighting, broadcast, frictionless service and low energy design — the Club’s vision is rooted in the spectacle of the game and live fan experience, creating a new town-centre destination with the stadium at its heart.  

Similarly, the phased redevelopment of Windsor Park Stadium, delivered by us with Holmes Miller Architects, created a highly successful national stadium and home for football in Northern Ireland. While nationally important, the stadium remains grounded at a community level, providing a home for Linfield FC as well as leisure facilities for local clubs and residents. 

How do you help clients shape stadiums that deliver long-term value — commercially, sustainably, and through their ability to adapt over time?

I led our UK-based engineering team on Al Janoub (Al Wakrah) Stadium with Zaha Hadid Architects; the first new-build stadium for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the centrepiece of a new public sports precinct south of Doha.

Al Janoub Stadium was a true path-finder project: a fully cooled 40,000-seat open-air stadium that could host World Cup matches during the tournament and later be reduced to a 20,000-seat capacity. When we began the project in 2013, the decision to move the tournament to winter had not yet been made, so our focus was on ensuring it could be delivered in the summer. In doing so, we helped establish program-wide standards and procedures for technical design, computational analysis, constructability, BIM, safety, and sustainability — setting benchmarks that shaped many of the stadiums that followed.  

Creating a comfortable environment for players and spectators, housed within a bold, iconic architectural form, demanded a truly integrated approach across all design disciplines. We recognised the need to establish ambitious sustainability targets, including LEED, GSAS and a bespoke kgCO2 per-seat target, which played an important role in guiding the team toward lean design principles and smart material choices. 

To remain viable year-round, stadiums must be adaptable and multifunctional to go beyond matchday use. For Al Janoub Stadium, we developed a comprehensive legacy transformation plan that balances adaptable permanent infrastructure with temporary, demountable elements and modular overlay, designed to be relocated and reused elsewhere. This approach supports a long-term vision for sustainable social infrastructure for Al Wakrah Sports Club. The stadium’s removable upper tier makes space for future education, community, commercial, and healthcare facilities, seamlessly connecting with the wider precinct. The venue itself remains highly flexible, capable of hosting a broad range of sports and other on-pitch events. 

What’s key to delivering complex venues quickly without compromising performance or flexibility?

The demand for delivering faster is a constant, responding to stakeholder expectations, the need to satisfy a rapid return on major investments, and the complex geopolitical factors that influence so many global construction projects. 

For example, Japoma Stadium, a 50,000-seat venue for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, was conceived as a site masterplan in 2017 and delivered just over two years later. We used advanced technology to prototype design options and communicate through high-quality visualisations and immersive experiences, enabling fast, well-informed decision-making. Ultimately, it was our expertise in constructability and innovation — delivering a simple, functional, and adaptable stadium using modular, repeatable components —alongside a close partnership with the main contractor, Yenigun, that made this achievement possible.

Establishing clear routes to stakeholder engagement, understanding the local regulatory framework, and proactively managing project risks and opportunities allowed us to remain agile during the design stage and derisk the procurement and construction. It is this experience that I aim to bring to every project, grounded in lasting partnerships between architects, engineers, operator and clients, which are essential to delivering a successful venue.

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