Creative structural design is both an art and a science.  We use imagination to create ideas, engineering to predict behaviour under load, and practical knowledge to devise construction method.  Our skill is engineering ‘know-how’, achieving more with less, designing safe economic structures.  In short, we practise the art of the adequate.

CAR Structures was established in September 2009 when Philip Cooper joined CAR as a Director.  Much of Philip Cooper’s award-winning work has been for teams led by the UK’s leading architects.  He has a reputation for visualizing and drawing efficient structures, innovating with new forms and materials, and finding simple rational solutions.

His years of experience with both new and historic buildings include colleges, churches, laboratories, theatres, music schools, art galleries, swimming pools, sports halls and residential buildings.  Clients include the University of Cambridge and its colleges, Royal Academy of Arts, National Maritime Museum, British Aerospace, Hippodrome Theatre, The National Trust and English Heritage.

Amongst noteworthy innovations, he has worked on the development of a lightweight composite structural glass floor using honeycomb, a super-slim lighting track made from aluminium stiffened with steel, trusses made of masonry, tile vaults built without formwork, and timber staircases without side support.

Selected Projects

Royal Academy of Arts, London, ongoing
Refurbishment of galleries
Courtyard paving and fountains, Hopkins Architects
Masterplanning, New Education Centre, David Chipperfield Architects

Hippodrome Theatre, London, 2009 -, CAR Ltd.

Café Royal London, 2008 -, David Chipperfield Architects

Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, New Music School, 2008, Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams Ltd.

Royal Observatory Greenwich, New Planetarium, 2007, Allies and Morrison Architects

The Pines Calyx, Dover, 2006, St. Margaret’s Bay Trust

University of the Arts, King’s Cross, Feasibility Study 2005, Stanton Williams Architects

Hackney Empire Theatre, London, 2003, Tim Ronalds Architects

Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe,1999, Tim Ronalds Architects

Ruskin Library, University of Lancaster, 1998, MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects

Trinity College, Cambridge
Great Court, Wren Library refurbishment, Boathouse, Underground Library.

Student accommodation: Blue Boar Court and Burrells Field, MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects

 

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