North West’s finest structural engineers gather to build a human bridge

The North West’s finest structural engineers are busy calculating and planning for the construction of the region’s next dramatic structure… a human bridge!

The human bridge will demonstrate the structural principles behind the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland and will be built by past, present and future chairmen, and supported with fellow members of the Cheshire and Lancashire branch of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). The living structure will be a unique and apt grand opening to the organisation’s new exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI.)

No Heels Allowed
IStructE’s first female president, Sarah Buck, will walk across the human bridge (literally standing on her forefathers!) to cut the ribbon and officially open the exhibition.

Sarah commented: "The Structural Engineer is the passionate and creative innovator who plays the integral role in the construction of a building. This interactive launch promotes the role of the Structural Engineer responsible for shaping our city skylines.
I am excited for IStructE to be part of this exhibition, demonstrating to the public how iconic buildings in Manchester perform their function, look good and safely stay up!”

Why Buildings Don’t Fall Down
Ever wondered how a building supports itself? Or why a building moves in the wind? The exhibition entitled “Why Buildings Don’t Fall Down” showcases some of the most impressive buildings ever constructed and highlights North West and International structures. It also shows some of the latest trends in building design as we look to create even more dramatic skylines in our towns and cities.

Ladies take the lead
Sarah’s position as President of IStructE sets a new trend as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have also recently announced their first lady president; Ruth Reed. As the ladies take the lead in two of the finest construction institutions, they are sure to shake up the traditional male-dominated industry and encourage a more balanced representation of members. Indeed, more and more women are working in the industry than ever before.

Happy Birthday IStructE
Coinciding with the institution’s centenary year, a fund raising dinner will be held at the North West’s tallest building, Beetham Tower, raising funds for disaster relief charity RedR.

Email: sblundell@concretecentre.com