Building tall with Kamran Moazami

In today’s podcast we takes a close look at the evolution and future challenges of tall building design with engineering design mega star Kamran Moazami.

Kamran is WSP’s managing director for property and buildings and with nearly half a century of design experience under his belt – most recently on projects such as The Shard, 22 Bishopsgate, and One Blackfriars, he is certainly the man to ask!

It is clear that around the world, the skyline is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with ever-taller, more ambitious buildings redefining the way we live and work. 

From London to New York, Dubai to Shanghai, the race to build higher is driven by increasing urbanisation, the need for sustainable development, and cutting-edge advancements in engineering and materials science.

But designing and delivering these megastructures is no easy feat. Every tall building presents a unique set of challenges—from wind resistance and structural stability to fire safety, vertical transportation, and carbon efficiency. 

The growing urgency around climate resilience also means engineers are now pushing boundaries to create greener, smarter, and more adaptive high-rises.

And as we are seeing post-earthquake in Myanmar and Bangkok, but also following the tragic 2017 Grenfell fire in London, maintaining public confidence in high rise is an increasingly challenging business.

Few understand these complexities better than Kamran – so let’s find out more.

Resources

• WSP Property and Buildings website
• The Shard
• 22 Bishopsgate
• Kamran Moazami interview in the Structural Engineer 2015
• Post Grenfell fire Hackett Report