Freelance Content Creator, Communications Specialist and Former Civil Engineer
As we move into the new year it is natural that we all look ahead, forecast, plan, predict and evolve. The way that we approach the future is deeply rooted in the past - learning from, and building on this experience is crucial. For the past couple of years I have been working on a project for Mott MacDonald that did just that. It brought to life stories of ingenuity and pioneering engineering that quite literally shaped the fabric of society. Both existing staff and people who had long retired, gave up their time to tell me what it was really like to design the kind of infrastructure that had never been delivered before. "The eyes of the world were on us, waiting for something to go wrong, but we did it," said one engineer who was quite rightly proud of his team who designed a structure that became a world icon. Time and perspective enable people to reflect. "It was the best project of my life and it has kept the lights on in the UK for 40 years," said another engineer of an underground pumped storage hydropower power station. He and his colleague’s high quality design meant that it not only outperformed its life expectancy, but beat all financial expectations from the outset. Of course the people that designed London's first deep level tube lines in the late 1890s are no longer here to tell me about it but we investigated their diaries, maps and photographs sharing their stories through artefacts and evidence. Evidence and facts are crucial in a world where a deep understanding of engineering physics leads to infrastructure that meets the needs of humanity in every possible way - from the water we drink, to the energy we use to the tunnels, bridges and railways that connect us. Every project that happens today relies on the experience, and ingenuity of the people who took the first steps to move the baseline of possibility forwards. Engineering companies win work based on their history of delivering such projects and so sometimes looking to the future means looking to the past. As we come to the end of the project I wanted to share a few highlights of the #heritage campaign where you too can hear the voices of the people that created some of the most important infrastructure of the last century..... Thank you to everyone involved in its delivery including: Joanna Prempeh Adrienne Konecsnik Andrew Mylius Helena Clarkson Joshua Elliot Dave R. Grant Springford Lex Wilson Nancy Madter and of course the brilliant podcast Engineering Matters
Joanna Prempeh
2mo
This was such an eye-opening project to work together on. I loved witnessing the impressive detective skills that went into unveiling these stories.
Dave R.
2mo
As someone new to the #MottMacLife I consider myself extremely lucky to have joined around the time this campaign was activated. Fascinating content, showing the legacy of many amazing developments and engineering feats. Not to mention the impressive multimedia assets bringing your content to life Bernadette.
Archivist ; co-chair for ARA Section for New Professionals
2moThanks for sharing Bernadette Ballantyne MEng AMICE enjoyed working with you on this, and seeing all the stories you brought to life!