A complete service for a wide range of industrial or commercial buildings

When working with clients on industrial projects, we take great care to understand how they expect their new facilities to function and the wider demands on the supporting infrastructure.

While our structural engineers focus on frames, foundations, and building performance, and the processes that may occur that will have a bearing on the form of the building, the choice of material, and any special measures that may be required. Our civil engineers will design the infrastructure, including access roads and service yards, drainage systems, utilities, and any external works.

Industrial projects demand more than just strong, efficient structures – they require carefully planned infrastructure to ensure that facilities can operate smoothly from day one. At SWJ Consulting, our civil engineering team works together with our structural engineers to provide a complete service for supermarkets, warehouses, distribution centres, drive-through complexes, and a wide range of industrial buildings.

With the function and use of the structure in mind, we invest the time to help our clients balance the immediate capital cost of the project. Our investment in appropriate analysis and drafting packages allows us to examine several options for the structural form accurately and efficiently. By making use of the links between various packages with the Autodesk AEC Collection, we can provide preliminary quantities as the basis for take-off and help our client’s estimators make an informed decision regarding the final solution for the structure.

Collaboration with an array of providers

Our structural and civil engineers work side by side with an array of providers of specialist equipment, e.g. the material recovery facility at Cheney Manor in Swindon and the aggregate washing facility for Smiths of Bletchingdon at their Ducklington site. We liaise closely with the providers of such specialist equipment to ensure that our proposals respect not only the loads applied by the equipment, but the unique challenge posed by the close tolerances required, often as little as ±2mm over 20m.

SWJ Consulting also appreciates that there are various pieces of environmental legislation that our industrial facility clients are required to work within, and ensure that our solutions are prepared with those in mind. We combine our detailed knowledge of the design of concrete structures with specialist consultants to provide robust but economic solutions for any slabs and storage tanks.

Our Approach

From the earliest feasibility studies through to construction delivery, we integrate civil and structural design to give our clients the confidence that every aspect of their project works together removing the risk of clashes, improving efficiency, and helping keep projects on schedule, within any relevant legislation, and within budget.

Our Experience

We have extensive experience in the industrial sector, delivering projects such as:

• Supermarkets and large-format retail warehouses
• Distribution centres and logistics facilities
• Specialist industrial and manufacturing buildings
• Mixed-use developments with integrated industrial elements

These projects often involve complex requirements such as heavy goods access, large service yards, sustainable drainage, adoption agreements, and the integration of utilities for demanding industrial operations. Our civil and structural engineers work together to address these challenges from the outset, ensuring robust and buildable designs.

Why work with SWJ Consulting?

By combining our civil and structural engineering expertise as well as consulting a network of specialists, SWJ Consulting provides clients with a complete solution for their industrial projects – helping create safe, efficient and future-ready facilities.

• Seamless integration – Civil and structural engineering delivered as a single coordinated service.
• Efficiency in design – Early-stage input helps reduce redesigns, avoid delays and optimise land use.
• Practical solutions – Infrastructure and structures designed to meet the operational needs of industrial clients.
• Collaborative working – We work closely with developers, architects, contractors and local and statutory authorities to ensure smooth delivery.