Sheffield Graduate is Young Structural Engineer of the Year
Sally Preston, 26, has been awarded the Young Structural Engineer of the Year award. The accolade, awarded by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), is made annually to a young structural engineer who has demonstrated outstanding performance and who shows exceptional promise for the future.
Sally, who graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture and is currently working for engineering consultancy Buro Happold in London, was awarded the prestigious accolade for her exemplary work on Palestra, a 12 storey office development located on Blackfriars Road in Southwark, London. Sally´s involvement on the project involved interaction with the architect, client, fabricator and also mentoring graduates working on the project. Sally commented, "I'm delighted. To have your enthusiasm and hard work recognised is very rewarding."
When asked why she chose structural engineering as a profession Sally said, "I did an architecture and structural engineering degree at Sheffield University because I originally aspired to qualify as both. After completing my degree, I began working as a structural engineer to gain experience but five years on I find the role continues to present me with multiple challenges in creative design, problem solving and mathematics. It is especially satisfying to be involved in the creation of a tangible product; being involved from the initial design stage through to on-site construction and seeing the finished building."
Sally´s win is encouraging evidence that young female structural engineers have a great deal to offer the profession and increasingly achieve outstanding success in this male-dominated industry. Sally commented: "The male/female imbalance is a fact within the construction industry but shouldn´t deter young women from pursuing a career in engineering. An ever expanding mix of race, culture and creed as well as the male/female balance can only enhance the design solutions that we adopt."
Sally received her award at IStructE´s annual Structural Awards ceremony on 9th November 2005 in Canary Wharf, London.