How We Work
Right from day one, we’ll work closely with you through each stage of the project. Why is this important? Because it means we’ll deliver to your agreed financial, social and environmental objectives. Our methodology is simple:
- Good communications between all
- Workshops to challenge assumptions, test ideas and encourage creative thinking
- Using our specialists at the earliest opportunity
- Adding value through innovation
- Ensuring high-quality resourcing
- Accuracy in design programming
Using this approach, our specialist engineers have contributed to some of the UK’s most impressive buildings and structures. Big and small. The scope of the work we take on is broad. From condition and acquisition surveys, through to the full refurbishment and modernisation of iconic, historic sites and complex, state-of-the-art new-builds from laboratories to schools, distilleries to offices, shops to shipyards.
We’ve built a reputation for working across a wide range of sectors all over the British Isles, to be one of the UK’s foremost engineering consultancies.
Our People
Rolled up sleeves and senior involvement is what Harley Haddow is all about. On every project, our teams are led from the front by our Directors. This applies to all of our offices across the UK. In London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Our Directors are hands on. From initial enquiry or bid, right through to completion. In turn, each of their carefully composed teams is made up of highly experienced engineers and support staff. From the most recent first-class honour graduate to the longest-serving Technical Director.
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History
What Tom Harley-Haddow started in 1950 was a blueprint for excellence. It’s a legacy we continue to this day.
Built to last
Like any building, the best businesses require the firmest of foundations. When Tom Harley-Haddow, a young engineer and architect lecturer drew up his vision in the 1950s, it was the start of something special. A blueprint for excellence. A successful UK business constructed upon four main pillars. Integration. Adaptability. Personal service. Innovation. We’re proud to say, his legacy remains strong to this day.
Timeline
1950, Firm foundations
Tom Harley-Haddow sets up T. Harley Haddow & Partners from a single-room office in Edinburgh. Smaller-scale commissions help to build a name for top-quality design and client service.
Larger commissions follow. Including, Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh and Kings College Tower, Aberdeen. Plus, Pollockshaws Central Development Unit – a multi-storey housing project pioneering the early use of large-panel pre-cast concrete.
The Practice grows to eight and relocates to new offices.
1960, Reinforcements
Tom is joined by two new partners. Our Glasgow office opens. The 1960s brought ever-larger commissions. Plus, an ambitious surge in UK house building, with the Practice working heavily in this sector. Including, a 322-flat development at the Bridge of Don, 360 houses in Penicuik, Midlothian and 275 houses in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.
Increased workflow grows the business fivefold. Our Aberdeen office opens. The Glasgow office moves to larger premises.
1970, Cementing our reputation
The Practice’s most prestigious project yet – Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Stadium, built for the Commonwealth Games. With this growth came our first Mechanical & Electrical design partner. The Architectural team designed a 2000-house development in Elgin and extended St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. The C&S team redevelop Waterloo Place, Edinburgh. Structures deliver major hospital extensions in Fife, more multi-storey housing and a variety of education and commercial projects.
1980, New plans
Staff reach 100. The Practice begins working in new fields, such as Defence and Retail. Our first London office opens.
Projects included John Menzies store in Dundee, an MoD base on the West coast of Scotland, and Auchenharvie Ice Rink. The 80s also saw T. Harley Haddow & Partners as early adopters of computers as a design tool.
With Tom’s vision flourishing, he takes retirement.
1990, Structural change
Post-recession, the business consolidates. New offices open in Perth and Galashiels to service local authorities Scotland-wide. Our Architecture arm disbands to allow full focus on multi-disciplinary engineering.
90s projects include the Western Isles Hospital on Stornoway (our largest healthcare project to date), the Traverse Theatre Edinburgh, New Lanark Conservation Village, the Italian Centre Glasgow. In England projects include, BT offices in Leeds and new commercial premises for Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, London.
2000, A new Millennium
2003 our Guildford office opens. In 2005 the Glasgow office expands further, moving into new premises.
Projects completed include the HBOS Headquarters conversion on Edinburgh’s Mound, Maggie’s Centre in Inverness and the Waddington Building for the University of Edinburgh. Plus, our commissions now extend into Europe and the Middle East.
2010, Future-proofing
London. Edinburgh. Glasgow. Our three offices now cover the whole of the UK. Across all sectors. Projects include regenerating Glasgow’s iconic Kelvin Hall and the world-famous Henry Moore Foundation, Hertfordshire. Not to mention, cutting-edge work for the University of Edinburgh Strathclyde Rowing Centre. Plus, large-scale housing regeneration in Raploch and Glasgow’s Victoria Infirmary. Various distilleries now emerge from the Scottish spirits renaissance.
We continue to work in higher education, arts and museums, residential and commercial. A UK-wide operation that continues to grow. All the while staying true to Tom’s original vision – to continue diversifying our portfolio while making a difference.
Want to know more?
We’re always happy to chat through potential projects. If you have an enquiry drop us a line.
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