Garland is an international consulting engineering firm that has undertaken thousands of projects in 35 countries worldwide. With its 80th anniversary just around the corner, we spoke to CEO Kevin Rudden about the history and success of the Dublin-headquartered company.
Concepts realised. That’s the tagline of Garland which provides a full range of civil and structural consulting engineering as well as specialist services in construction safety management, project management and planning, social and economic development. From its offices in Dublin (Rathmines), Limerick, Waterford, London, Riyadh and Jeddah, the company’s specialist divisions tailor a range of services to suit the needs of any project. Its highly experienced teams are renowned for prestigious work within the commercial, conservation and restoration, healthcare, educational, industrial, infrastructure, leisure and hotels, public buildings and residential sectors.
Since the foundation of the company in 1937, the original values of Thomas A Garland have been retained and today those values are captured in ‘The Garland Way’ of delivering excellence and value to a growing client-base. A much-travelled man who spent many years in UCD lecturing, educating and imparting his knowledge to the next generation of Irish consulting engineers, Thomas Garland expanded the company over time by forging a reputation for innovation, reliability and a common sense approach to resolving client’s problems.
In 1968, the consultancy opened a second office in Limerick to serve the growing demand for civil and structural engineering services in the region. Garland continued along its successful path in the 1970s and 1980s, building upon an already extensive portfolio by designing industrial estates, urban and truck roads, bridges, aircraft hangers, water and sewage treatment plants and substantial engineering projects. Through its association with Shannon Development, it provided civil and structural engineering expertise as part of multi-disciplinary teams carrying out feasibility studies for industrial parks and free zones in a number of developing countries.
In 1989, a subsidiary company – Garland Ormond International – was founded to undertake civil and structural engineering work overseas. The company, which has worked alongside the World Bank, the EU, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, is now incorporated into the single banner of Garland.
During the last decade, Garland acquired Douglas Baxter Associates in Waterford and established Shannon International Development Consultants (SIDC) in conjunction with Tom Kelleher. This wing of the consultancy harnesses the unique economic development experience and expertise of the Shannon Region and delivers a range of economic consultancy services to the international development community.
The advent of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006 led to the formation of a Safety Management Consultancy in 2007 to fuse health and safety with a sound and practical engineering philosophy. Then, in 2011, Garland teamed up with three other Irish consultancy services of different disciplines to create Pivotal International. Primarily serving Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, the joint venture further expands the scope and international presence of Garland.
“Our ability to evolve has been a key factor in our growth. We are constantly evolving and diversifying,” explains Kevin Rudden, whose association with the company he now heads up goes back to 1993 when he received the prestigious Garland Award while studying structural engineering at Bolton Street.
“At the moment, there is a big trend towards BIM (Building Information Modelling) and we’re among the innovators in this regard. Everything is designed and drawn in a 3D world now and BIM has changed the way projects are delivered. It’s a requirement in the UK for all public works and you need it to compete internationally. We welcome the fact that Enterprise Ireland is actively promoting the use of BIM.
“We are passionate about our work and about our client’s projects. We work alongside them in the pursuit of their goals. We aim to be the source of trusted practical and reliable advice as we work tirelessly for quality and excellence in the delivery of projects.”
Employing 60 staff, the award-winning company has seen a sharp rise in its business at home as well as overseas.
“Ireland currently accounts for about 70 per cent of our overall business,” the affable CEO points out.
“During the recession, 50 per cent of our business was in Ireland and 50 per cent was abroad. We try to spread the risk around and not be over-reliant on one market. Having said that, we’re delighted to see the recovery in the Irish economy and the emergence of a new breed of developer who is more prudent and more focused on a better product working under a totally different regime.
“The next challenge is Brexit and what impact it will have. There is €1.2 billion transferred between us and the UK every week, so a lot of business people are understandably worried.”
The four main services provided by Garland are structural engineering, safety management, project management and planning, social and economic development. The company collaborates with architects, design teams, contractors and owners to create effective and innovative solutions for every project it works on. Garland explores options, proactively approaches problem solving and delivers high quality projects that meet and exceed clients’ budgets and programme expectations. Its services cover every stage, from conceptual and feasibility planning to detailed design and construction management and supervision.
Structural engineering services include: master planning; preliminary, scheme and detailed structural designs; structural surveys; feasibility studies; contract administration; site supervision; risk management; project appraisals; condition surveys; temporary works; geotechnical; pyrite evaluation. Key projects in this regard include Tallaght Hospital, Airside Retail Park, Kilkenny Courthouse, Tierney Building, Critical Care Unit at Limerick Regional Hospital, Abbott Pharmaceuticals and recently a 3 million m² Bonded and Re-Export Zone in Saudi Arabia.
Garland has been bringing its unique and unrivalled experience in construction safety and health management to the market since 2007, specialising in the undertaking of the role of project supervisor design process (PSDP). Safety management services include: PSDP; project supervisor construction stage (PSCS); safety design management consultancy; safety training for designers, clients and PSDP; safety statements; risk assessments; standard operation procedures; construction regulation compliance audits; safety management systems.
Garland Project Management is based on the principles of communication and ‘hands-on’ action to successfully delivery projects. The firm’s expert project managers prioritise the client’s objectives and facilitate the design team in controlling costs and managing programmes. Services include: business plan assessment; contract administration; due diligence; employer’s representative; facilities management; feasibility studies; peer reviews; procurement services; programme management; programming and scheduling.
Garland’s planning, social and economic development consultancy service is offered through SIDC. The services provided include: development of various types of industrial parks; the preparation of feasibility studies for the various types of development; site evaluation from an economic and engineering perspective; formulation of proposals for the development and management of the various types of industrial park concepts; the conduct of economic cost benefits and analysis; regional planning; local area development; foreign direct investment (FDI); designing, developing, supporting investment promotion agencies; institutional development and capacity building; market research and development of incentive packages compatible with WTO norms; economic development training.
Kevin Rudden is a well-known and respected figure within the consulting engineering field. A past president of the ACEI (Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland), he is president-elect of the EFCA (European Federation of Consulting Engineering Associations). When he begins his three-year presidency next June, he will be the first Irish member to serve the role.
“It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to meeting head on,” he adds.
“I am committed to fostering the strength of the collaborative and business-focused network that EFCA is. EFCA will continue advising the European regulators on the development of a business-friendly environment to ensure our firms’ competitiveness in the global market.”
In addition, Kevin sits on the boards of the Construction Information Technology Alliance (CITA) and the Construction Industry Council, and is a member of the construction advisory committee of the Health & Safety Authority (HSA).
Garland (Dublin office)
Garland House,
28-30 Rathmines Park,
Dublin 6.
Telephone: 01 4964322
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.garlandconsultancy.com
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, August 2016, Vol 2 No 4
