Our people
Neil Roberts
I graduated from South Bank University, London, with a degree in Environmental Engineering in 1990. I then worked for several years in both client and consultant-based employment, which gave me a good grounding in practical skills. Since joining Hoare Lea in 1996, I have worked on a range of projects across leisure, mixed-use, retail, education and mission-critical data centres.
Engineering human experiences.
One of my most satisfying projects was the new £22 million Strood Academy in Kent that replaced a tired, energy-inefficient ‘prison-like’ school environment where the children were considered troublesome and staff seemed exhausted. It showed me that architecture and engineering can transform both the human and learning experience; after our work was complete, it was fantastic to see the pupils and staff thoroughly enjoying their new school building.
A defining moment.
Our previous Managing Partner entrusted me and another colleague to lead the Bank of America project – a critical data centre that processed $500 billion a day, and one which he described as the most technically and intellectually challenging project he had known in his career. His trust and faith in me as a young engineer was empowering and motivating and I try to take this approach with younger Hoare Lea engineers today.