History & culture
We live in an age of continual and increasingly rapid change. Our aim is not just to keep pace with this change, but to help lead it.
Our fundamental values remain unchanged since Ove Arup first stated his vision in 1970 (in what is now known as the Key Speech); indeed, they are strongly re-affirmed. But the characteristics of our future firm may be different from those we currently exhibit.
We have an organisational style that:
- Delivers results
- Encourages initiative
- Minimises bureaucracy
- Cares for its members
- Celebrates success
A brief history
1946
Ove Arup leaves the construction company he and his cousin had founded eight years previously and goes it alone as a consulting engineer.
Offices established in London and Dublin.
1956
The firm is 30 strong, growing in size and importance during the era of high public sector spending in the UK that spanned the 1950s and 1960s.
Arups clients include virtually every architectural practice of note. Maintaining a close connection with avant-garde architecture the firm pioneers many advanced and economical solutions for buildings, which remains its core activity. At the same time it begins the process of multi-disciplinary working by taking in specialist engineers with skills including computer analysis, shell structures, cost management, highways, bridges and civil engineering.
1966
Better known for involvement with many of the high profile buildings of the post-war years, Arup has made a name for itself in many other aspects of engineering from roads and bridges. Coventry cathedral is completed. Our R&D department is established, incorporating structural pathology and materials technology, along with geotechnics, transport planning, Industrial engineering groups.
1976
Our project planning and offshore engineering, maritime, industrial and energy businesses are now growing. Key projects include the completion of the Sydney Opera House and the Pompidou in Paris. Vastly enlarged over the last 20 years, we now have offices in northern Europe, southern Africa, south east Asia and Australasia.
1986
Our range of specialist services continues to expand, encompassing acoustics, economics and planning, facades, communications and IT, and project management; as well as specific skills relating to impact and blast, risk and seismic engineering.
Our reputation is expanding and we are now making a name for ourselves in diverse fields from the built environment to indestructible flasks for transporting nuclear waste.
1996
We now have offices across Europe, North America, Africa, Australasia and south east Asia. Major projects include the Foster and Partners-designed Stansted Airport (UK) and the innovative Wandoo offshore drilling platform; reflecting a growing specialist skills portfolio. Our services now include airport masterplanning, logistics, project creation, product design, manufacturing and value management.
2006
Our portfolio continues to expand, including sports stadium design and operations, vehicle design and styling, business continuity planning, aural visualisation and sustainable city design and masterplanning. Significant projects include the world's first eco-city in Dongtan, near Shanghai in China, the Oresund link, joining Denmark and Sweden for the first time, and the first phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, one of the biggest infrastructure projects in recent years.
Today
Arup now has more than 9000 people worldwide and an annual turnover exceeding £475M (US$824M). Arup represents a tremendous concentration of technical and strategic knowledge.
