Following a successful launch in London in May, leading full-service engineering firm, DeSimone Consulting Engineering, has announced two new senior hires – further strengthening its operations in the UK. DeSimone appointed Dale Middleton as senior project manager within the company’s UK Façade arm and Duncan Gray as associate director in the team’s Construction Consulting Services group.

Dale will assist with the growth of DeSimone’s façade engineering operations within the UK with the backing of DeSimone’s already strong Façade Consulting arm, which operates globally. He brings over 12 years of experience in engineering, testing, estimating, and field experience in existing and new building façade systems. He previously worked as a design manager at a façade specialist contractor, where he contributed to successful projects such as No. 7&8 Wellington Place in Leeds, Hotel La Tour in Milton Keynes, and HCA Birmingham Hospital. Dale is looking to cement DeSimone as the go-to façade consultants for not only new-build facades but also re-cladding projects in the wake of the new Fire Safety Regulations and Building Safety Act impacting façade design.

Moving over from the large multinational professional services firm, Kroll, Duncan brings over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, spending his career at the interface between the design engineering and field operations teams. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer and a Member of the Institutes of Structural Engineers. Duncan brings valuable skillsets to the London office’s construction consulting offering with his experience in forensic structural engineering, technical expert witness work, as well as delays analysis. He has worked on many significant projects, from design to project management and on-site supervision. His experience includes the new Google Headquarters in London, Cherry Park; a 1,600-unit residential project in London; and the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, a £400M design-build hospital in Birmingham, among many others.

Stephen DeSimone, Chairman and CEO of DeSimone Consulting Engineering, comments: “We are thrilled to welcome both Duncan and Dale as we continue to grow our presence in the UK and strengthen our capabilities to support our clients around the globe. Both Dale and Duncan bring with them a wealth of experience in multiple different disciplines from design and façades to disputes and risk. Since launching our operation in London in May, we have experienced substantial growth, working with new and existing clients across all sectors. The appointment of both Duncan and Dale will further cement our presence in the UK’s structural engineering sector.”

Dale Middleton, Senior Project Manager at DeSimone Consulting Engineering, comments: “I am delighted to be joining DeSimone Consulting Engineering during a strong period of growth. I am looking forward to working with the global façade team at DeSimone and leaning on both the company’s and my own experience in order to build and grow a strong façade and cladding team here in the UK.”

Duncan Gray, Associate Director at DeSimone Consulting Engineering, comments: “I’ve been following the work of DeSimone Consulting Engineering for quite some time now, and I’m excited to have joined the team as an associate director working within the construction consulting division. I’m looking forward to working with the wider team to further grow DeSimone’s presence in the UK.”

DeSimone Consulting Engineering is one of the world’s pioneering specialists in structural engineering providing superlative expertise in several areas including structural engineering, façade consulting, forensic services, and construction consulting for all types of buildings.  With over 10,000 projects in 54 countries, DeSimone’s completed projects include the Wasl Tower in Dubai, the famed residential tower One Thousand Museum alongside Zaha Hadid Architects, Grove at Grand Bay twisting towers with BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, and the Statue of Liberty Museum in the US.