Profile
DBSW is led by Damian Brenlla, a structural engineer with experience in a wide range of sectors, including residential, industrial, life sciences, commercial, retail, infrastructure, aviation, leisure, energy and custodial. Damian has completed projects throughout the UK and internationally at both design and managerial levels. He also led numerous technical peer reviews of existing and proposed structures, including bridges, high-rise and listed buildings. He is passionate about innovation and exploring the use of new materials to expand the possibilities of structural engineering and its applications in the built environment, especially regarding sustainability. Damian’s main design specialism relates to the design of glass and acrylic structural shells and plates.
Background
Having completed degrees in architectural and structural engineering, Damian’s academic background is not only focused on structures but also on construction engineering and architecture as a holistic entity. This provides a perception of the bigger picture whilst keeping the attention to detail required in terms of structural design and engineering. His professional profile is fundamentally of a structural designer, although he has been involved in civil engineering at certain stages of his career. Having worked throughout the UK and abroad, Damian has a clear understanding of the Client’s, architect’s and contractor’s expectations together with the specifics related to a significant number of construction sectors. This enables great efficiencies in the design process whilst keeping technical quality to the right standard.
Design Focused
During his career as an engineer, Damian developed a sense of responsibility in terms of aesthetics where structures serve an architectural or design purpose in terms of their shape, form and use. Structural engineering is both an art and a technological discipline living on a fine line between tradition and innovation. Damian takes pride in diving deep and exploring an ample range of structural ideas in a similar way as a craftsman shapes different possibilities with raw materials. In the technological and scientific aspect, whilst simplicity and elegance are always sought after, sometimes structural proposals require to be complex and this is something that his technical expertise can provide.
Commitment
Damian is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers and also of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He belongs to the Structural Futures Committee of the Institution of Structural Engineers and is a moderator of the Joint Board of Moderators. Aside from being a mentor to other civil and structural engineers in the ICE and the IStructE, he is also a STEM Ambassador, promoting engineering as a career choice for young people.