Specialist Conservation Engineer

At Static Dynamic, we believe that the past and the present should coexist in a way that honours both. As a Conservation Accredited Engineer, I bring recognised expertise in working with historic buildings and structures, providing solutions that are sensitive, technically robust, and tailored to the unique needs of heritage fabric.

Accreditation is more than a badge—it signals to clients, architects, contractors, and conservation officers that the approach we take balances respect for historic significance with modern standards of safety, durability, and usability. It also demonstrates our ability to lead within multi-disciplinary teams on projects where heritage values must be carefully weighed against functional demands.

What Makes Conservation Engineering Different?

Conservation engineering requires a different mindset from new-build work. Instead of starting with blank paper, we begin with centuries of history: irregular stonework, early concrete, timber repairs layered over generations, and often incomplete records of how a structure was originally built.

Every project begins with understanding the building as it stands today—its materials, its defects, and its story. The goal is not simply to “fix” or “replace,” but to extend the life of the original fabric while ensuring safety and compliance with current standards. Interventions should be as light as possible, yet as strong as necessary.

This ethos underpins our work across a wide range of heritage assets, from nationally significant scheduled monuments to smaller but equally treasured local buildings.

Why Accreditation Matters to Clients

Conservation Accreditation is a formal recognition of competence, assessed against national benchmarks. For clients, this brings confidence that:

• Recommendations are grounded in evidence – not just opinion.

• Decisions respect statutory and heritage frameworks – aligning with bodies such as Historic England, CADW, and local conservation officers.

• Designs consider longevity and sustainability – ensuring repairs last without over-engineering.

• Applications are managed professionally – from Scheduled Monument Consent to listed building applications, with technical input that makes approval more likely.

• Communication bridges modern and traditional construction – engaging both conservation specialists and mainstream contractors.

Blending Tradition and Innovation

While conservation is rooted in tradition, modern tools are indispensable. We routinely combine 3D survey data, CAD analysis, and structural modelling with hands-on inspection, hammer tapping, and lime mortar sampling. This dual approach allows us to justify minimal interventions with modern evidence, while respecting the craft skills that will carry out the repairs.

An example of this balance came during the assessment of a historic jack arch bridge: traditional knowledge of arch thrust lines informed the decision-making, while finite element modelling quantified load paths and identified safe working capacities. The result was a solution that reassured both the highway authority and the heritage stakeholders.