Profile

Launched in 2010, HMA structural engineering consultancy is able to advise clients on the safe structural design of principle building elements, to engage enthusiastically in the architectural design process, and to provide all the necessary calculations, sketches and drawings for contractors, designers and local authorities.

Background

With over 37 years experience as a structural engineer, Hugh Morrison has worked on a wide variety of projects, many of which have received engineering and architectural awards. Prior to 1994, his formative years were spent in London working at Ove Arup & Partners, before becoming firmly established in Manchester.

With a broad background including commercial office and leisure projects, refurbishment of historic buildings, oil and gas sub-sea structures, tensile structures and cultural buildings and even space structures, he is conversant with a wide variety of materials and design techniques.

In recent years Hugh has thrived on smaller scale projects; particularly in the field of structurally insulated panel construction (SIPs), historical refurbishments, and specialist structures including; glass design, staircases, mezzanine structures, and also residential extensions, new build and survey work.

Hugh is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Focus

Building on relationships with structurally insulated panel (SIP) manufacturers, suppliers and Kingspan partners consulting work has focused on this market. On occasion Hugh has taken on miscellaneous small scale work as spin offs from SIPs projects, not limited to timber frame, steel structures and verification of SIPs products (load span tables and advice on testing).

Books

Hugh has written two books for structural design, published on Amazon and Lulu.

“Structural Engineering. Art and Approximation”, published in 2014, was aimed at teaching and reference material for simplified methods of conceptualising structures; important for informing contemporary structural analysis, predominantly undertaken with software and spreadsheets.

“Structurally Insulated Panels. Structural Design Manual”, published in 2024. Comprehensive guidance for structural design of structurally insulated panels (SIPs) for practising engineers and students. This book brings together design friendly methods of structural analysis, drawn from test data, classic analytical techniques and published papers.