Journal Article

This paper explores why heritage structural engineering is essential to our society and our future profession. Society has become consumer-driven, where the latest technology or fashion is more important than our understanding our history and how it has shaped us and where we are today. Our engineering heritage with some exceptions has suffered. Structures which are old and yet have many interesting or unique features and which could be reused are demolished to make way for a modern building. Similarly, our industrial heritage and equipment are neglected, or the site redeveloped for housing or similar without any thought to its history and its heritage and how it might be usefully retained for future use by society. From a sustainability point of view and reducing the carbon footprint, it is far more economical to reuse a building or structure than demolish it and at the same time can save significant costs. We are all responsible for preserving history, but in particular, all engineers have the responsibility for preserving the engineering masterpieces and our heritage for future generations. This paper examines what we need to do to train the younger structural engineers in the art of structural heritage engineering and why the history and conservation of structural engineering are so important for the future.