A landmark two-storey facility located adjacent to active dock infrastructure and a marine environment, as part of Cumbria's new Barrow Campus.
Civils & Structures
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Designing for thriving communities through sustainable and innovative engineering
Civil and structural engineering is where life began for us, and it remains at the core of our award-winning consultancy. Our specialised expertise touches every stage of the development process, from feasibility and planning submissions, through extraordinary transformations of existing structures and highways, to the design and maintenance of innovative, flexible and people-centric facilities.
For more than 65 years, we’ve collaborated with clients, architects, contractors and M&E engineers to deliver elegant, low‑carbon engineering solutions across a broad range of sectors.
We’re committed to sustainability within the industry and continue to innovate with elegant and practical engineering solutions, delivering the very best results for our clients, communities and the world we live in.
Our Key Civil & Structural Engineering Services
Structural
Structural Engineering Design
Structural Investigation & Assessment
High-rise structures
RAAC Surveys
LPS Assessment
HRB Report
SER & BCAR Services
Concrete Testing
Structural Façade Design
Non-trad Housing
Carbon Assessment
Conservation & Heritage
Low carbon design
Load Testing
Civils
Early Stage Project Services
Early-stage project planning
Bespoke Foursite service to unlock site constraints
Technical masterplanning to review and mitigate development constraints
Flood Risk Assessments (FRA)
Flood Consequence Assessments (FCA)
Drainage strategy services to support planning
Preparation of Environmental Statement chapters for planning approval
Post‑Planning Infrastructure Strategy
Highway design (private and public), including Section 38, 50 and 278 agreements
SAB Application for surface water compliance in Wales
SuDS designs
Traditional drainage systems for private developments and adoptable networks (S104, S106, S185)
Cut and fill assessment and earthworks modelling
Levels strategies for efficient site development
Flood storage compensation analysis and wider flood‑risk mitigation
Detailed technical masterplanning
External works design, including hard landscaping and engineering for soft landscaping
Utilities Design
CCTV Drainage Survey
Rainwater Harvesting
Surface Water Drainage Design
Foul Water Drainage Design
Hardstanding Design
Flood Modelling
Liaison and management of agreements with statutory bodies, local authorities, highways departments, the Environment Agency, SEPA, Natural Resources Wales and the EPA
Our Civils & Structures Projects
An award-winning office development totalling approximately 150,000 sq ft, delivered as part of the first phase of the town centre regeneration for Birkenhead. The two buildings reflect the significant investment, providing an anchor project and a catalyst for Birkenhead’s new business & commercial district, blending modern design and environmental efficiency with a strong social impact.
Mallory & Irvine Buildings, Wirral
Orbiston Community Hub in Scotland is a modern, integrated facility that brings together primary education, early years provision, and community services in one inclusive, flexible environment.
Orbiston Community Hub, Scotland
A highly sustainable new building at Manchester Metropolitan University serves as a dynamic living lab, showcasing advances in science and engineering. It bridges research, education, and the wider city region, fostering collaboration and sharing innovative solutions with the community.
Science and Engineering Building, MMU, Manchester
As part of Liverpool John Moores University’s largest redevelopment project, we are providing civil and structural engineering expertise to support decarbonisation and deliver modern, flexible facilities for students and staff.
Henry Cotton Building, LJMU, Liverpool
Hemisphere represents a defining moment in the regeneration of Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, bringing forward a bold and sustainable new landmark shaped by the city’s architectural legacy.
Hemisphere, Liverpool
Complete Services
Our Approach To...
Conservation & Heritage
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Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
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Tall Buildings
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Flood Risk Assessments
Learn MoreReducing Carbon Emissions for a Sustainable Future
We’re committed to making meaningful, measurable change, both within our own operations and across the wider industry. By leading, collaborating, and sharing best practice, we aim to maximise the positive impact we can make together.
We measure the carbon emissions of both our projects and our business to fully understand our footprint. Through detailed analysis and transparent reporting, we’ve set ambitious but achievable reduction targets.
Our goal is to reduce the average embodied carbon of our projects from 340kgCO₂e/m² to 295kgCO₂e/m² by 2030. As of 2026, we are exceeding this target.
By working proactively towards these targets, we’re helping to drive environmental improvement and move towards a more sustainable, resilient future for everyone.
What Our Clients Say
“Curtins developed a design solution which minimised disruption to the building’s occupied spaces above by limiting the temporary propping to the basement and ground floors, avoiding the need for decant from the upper levels as well as resolving program risks to the construction stage. Curtins remained professional in their approach throughout and were equal to the difficult challenges posed by this project.”
Further Reading
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News29th Jun 26
Our Latest Embodied Carbon Data: Key Sector Insights
We've published our latest embodied carbon data for 2025/2026, highlighting our commitment to transparency, collaboration, and accelerating low carbon design across the built environment.
Views25th Jun 26
How can Cumbria address the skills shortage?
Peter Thomas, Business Unit Director for Kendal, reflects on being told he’d need to leave Cumbria to build a career, a path many still follow as they pursue opportunities in larger cities. However, this has reinforced an outdated perception that rural careers are a compromise, rather than a viable and appealing choice from the outset.
News25th Jun 26
Bridging intent to delivery: scaling next generation low carbon concrete with confidence through the AMC
Curtins is proud to have signed the Advance Market Commitment for Next-Generation Low Carbon Concrete, led by Innovate UK. Building on our 2022 public commitment to reduce embodied carbon, this marks an important step in accelerating and scaling the adoption of low carbon materials across the industry.
