Name: Lindel Reid
Job title: Managing principal, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and UK at DeSimone Consulting Engineering
What I do: I am a structural engineer as well as the managing principal for Abu Dhabi, Dubai and UK at DeSimone Consulting Engineering.
Why I got into the property industry: Intrigue – the need to know. When I was at primary school in Manchester, I was travelling on a bus to school one morning, which drove past a house that was under construction, and they were installing the roof rafters. Something clicked. I wanted to know how they knew what centres to install the rafters. What made this house stand? From that moment, I chose to follow the route of architecture, not knowing that it was actually the structural engineering side that grabbed my interest.
How I did it: It wasn’t until I completed my A-levels and went to my first architecture college interview that I noticed a student drawing lines on a board. He was producing a reinforced concrete slab reinforcement detailing drawing. He said he was studying structural engineering, and he explained to me what a structural engineer’s roles and responsibilities were. Then I realised, that the rafter’s centres were decided by a structural engineer not an architect.
I changed my direction and pursued a degree in structural engineering. I gained an honours degree in civil engineering and architecture at Leeds University, then four years post graduate working, I passed my Institute of Structural Engineers exam and became a chartered engineer.
My first proper job: I started my professional career at Alan Baxter and Associates, a structural engineering company based in Clerkenwell, north east London. Following my time there, I joined Mott MacDonald as a junior engineer and worked there for eight years before progressing through the ranks to become a senior engineer. After working at Mott MacDonald I joined Arup before I went to Dubai.
My first big break: My first big break came from Paul Bates of Mott MacDonald. We worked together for many years. He helped shape me into the engineer I am today. Paul was the key person who installed in me that we are here to make the architects dreams and inspirations become a reality.
My inspiration(s): I have many inspirations who have played a huge part in my career so far. First of all my mother who instilled in me to never give up then my chemistry teacher (High School of Art) who made me aware of how your attitude impacts others, famous Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, the Post Modern era is my favourite, famous British architect Norman Foster, famous structural engineer Peter Rice and Richard Rogers to name a few.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: In December 2008, I left Arup’s UK to go to Dubai (I wanted to design towers) and joined BGE an Australian company, within a couple of days after my arrival – my first email of the first day at my new job was from my boss Peter De Bruin. The subject was ‘all work in Dubai has stopped’. As a business, we regrouped, we reviewed, and we went back out to market. We pursued and re-built relationships with new and existing clients. Hard work, skill and the sheer dedication to our clients proved our worth and we won a project that ensured that half of the office kept their jobs.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Working on Wembley Stadium. At Mott MacDonald, I worked on the bid alongside David Johnson who was the initiator. I was one of three project team leaders, for the delivery of the project and then seconded to Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) as the client representative. I was the last person to examine the arch before it was erected. Wembley Stadium is an impressive project, a beautiful structure, and overall an iconic stadium for many.
My biggest screw-up: In the younger days of my career, I was appointed to do jury service. I said to my bosses at the time that it would only be two weeks. Little did I know that it was closer to two months! Being inexperienced I never knew the implications this would have on a project or its timescales. I lost the job due to my lack of communication! A lesson was learnt, and I now encourage everyone I work with to be vocal about progress whether good or bad.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: In regards to my role, I would say that many people’s knowledge about the importance of the structures and structural engineers’ capabilities are limited if not non-existent. We do more than just carry out surveys for banks on property mortgages.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: The built environment industry needs more diversity. It would also be good to see earlier engagements taking place in schools, supporting a wider range of roles in the built environment sector.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I definitely see myself working in London/Manchester. I can see more and more towers being built in these major UK cities over the coming years.
My main career goals right now: To pass on my knowledge to those I work with on a daily basis. Every day is a school day as they say!
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Easy. It would have to be legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
What I do in my downtime: Spend time with family, binge watch box sets and go to the gym. I would also say playing golf, badly.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: If I wasn’t doing what I do now, I wanted to be an actor after watching Sidney Poiter in the Heat of the Night. This was the first film I watched on my father’s new TV. That film is my number one film for so many reasons which I won’t go into now.
My advice for someone just starting out: Persevere! Structural engineering is a hard long road without much recognition at the beginning however, things gets better and better and rewarding the longer you are in the industry.
My motto/mantra: Never give up!
