JAM Structural Design

The unassuming site for one of our latest projects – a new socialising space with an outdoor kitchen, covered dining area, and a golf simulator 🏌️‍♂️, tucked away in the back garden of our client’s home.

Early coordination is key on this one due to the site constraints and design ambitions.

The client wants extensive glazing, including frameless corner windows, and a roof structure as shallow as possible.

Poor ground conditions and a nearby public drain present additional challenges for the foundations.

We’re developing structural options that allow the design intent to be realised while minimising ground loads and avoiding any impact on the drain. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

What happens when a building doesn’t follow the plan?

We’re currently working with Rise Contractors and Architects on a deep retrofit of a bungalow in Huddersfield.

The original plan was to retain the existing pitched roof and its supporting purlin, then install new flat roof joists underneath.

But once the structure was uncovered on site, the existing purlin was sagging.

If we followed the original plan, we’d have had to lower the flat roof to avoid contact with the purlin, which would have reduced head height inside the space.

Instead of compromising the layout, we worked together to find a solution.

The proposed solution was to notch the new joists around the existing purlin, which would allow us to retain the original head height.

We assessed the impact of the reduced joist depth and ran calculations to confirm that strapping the joists to the purlin above would create a new point of support.

This shortened the spans and maintained the strength of the structure while keeping the internal ceiling height just as we’d intended.

This is exactly why we stay involved during construction.

If you're looking to for help on your next project, book a call to explore how we could help!

https://calendly.com/jamstructures-info/30min?month=2025-06

We're hiring!

JAM are looking for a Senior Engineer to join our fantastic team.

Whether you're a Project Engineer ready for your next career step, or an experienced Senior Engineer who wants to help shape the future of our practice, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now using the link below:

https://www.bluetownonline.com/jobs/senior-structural-engineer-112109/ -form-112109

When is a building like a capsizing boat?

When lateral stability [a building’s ability to resist horizontal forces such as wind pressures, or even accidental impact] hasn't been considered.

Modern architecture prioritise spaciousness, natural light, and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

But the removal of existing walls and the addition of large openings inherent in these designs introduce unique engineering challenges in terms of lateral stability.

When it comes to integrating large openings, collaboration between clients, architects and structural engineers is crucial to avoid significant steelwork and lots of additional cost.

If you're looking to keep costs down on your next project, let’s have a chat to explore how we could help!