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FORM Engineers’ Straightforward and Fundamental Approach
Melbourne-based multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm FORM Engineers has delivered more than 400 projects, all underlined by an abiding respect for fundamentals.
Led by its founding director, Barry Russell – who has more than 35 years of industry experience – FORM Engineers emphasises a straightforward, fundamental approach to engineering. Specialising in residential, commercial, retail and civil projects, FORM Engineers is dedicated to creating functional and sustainable structures that meet the diverse needs of its clients.
Led by its founding director, Barry Russell – who has more than 35 years of industry experience – FORM Engineers emphasises a straightforward, fundamental approach to engineering.
Russell’s extensive career began in the mid-1980s as a drafter. After acquiring an honours degree in the 1990s, he rose through various roles at a major international consulting engineering firm before establishing FORM Engineers in 2011. This journey instilled in him a profound respect for the fundamentals of engineering – design and documentation – which remain at the core of every project FORM Engineers undertakes. Under Russell’s leadership, the firm commits to a hands-on approach, ensuring his wealth of experience directly influences all projects.
The firm’s methodology is distinguished by its seamless integration of tradition sketching and modern technological tools. The design process typically starts with hand-drawn sketches that allow for rapid exploration of structural possibilities. “We invest our time in the scheme design stage to develop the building such that load paths and structural form are simplified,” says Russell. “This will, in turn, assist the costs, program and preliminaries and reduce client risk considerably.” This initial creative stage is vital for setting the project’s foundational strategy, which is carefully carried through to the detailed design and documentation stages.
“Under direction from both the client and the project’s architect, scheme design and design development stages will be completed using a series of hand-drawn sketches clearly annotating the arrangement and sizes of all primary structures in the preferred materials,” he explains. By doing so, FORM Engineers ensures that each project is developed with a focus on efficiency and accuracy, facilitating an ultra-smooth transition from concept to construction without significant deviations.
As projects move from initial sketches to detailed designs, FORM employs advanced engineering software to enhance precision. “Once fully developed, we will commit to AutoCAD or Revit Modelling drawings and would expect that there be nominal if any development or changes from thereon.” Adhering closely to this process from the design development stages through to final construction drawings not only minimises the need for subsequent changes but also streamlines the entire construction process, emphasising the firm’s commitment to a simple, precise and effective methodology.
Specialising in residential, commercial, retail and civil projects, FORM Engineers is dedicated to creating functional and sustainable structures that meet the diverse needs of its clients.
Documentation is another cornerstone of FORM Engineers’ operational philosophy. “Documentation is the key to what we do – we design, specify and draw buildings or structures to be built. Drawings are effectively our primary communication tool – when they are clear and comprehensive, there are fewer queries back to us, which means we can get on with the project and give it our full attention.” Such meticulous attention to clarity ensures that FORM Engineers maintains a high standard of quality and service, streamlining project workflows and enhancing client satisfaction in the process.
FORM Engineers has successfully completed more than 400 projects across a variety of sectors, showcasing its ability to innovate and adapt to complex architectural demands. The redevelopment of King & Godfree in Melbourne’s Carlton – which holds the honour of being one of Australia’s oldest grocery stores – is a prime example. This project involved the adaptive reuse of a heritage Victorian building alongside a 1960s concrete frame, transforming these structures into a lively commercial hub with cafes, restaurants and a rooftop bar. By intricately weaving new steelwork frames and modern amenities into the historical context, FORM achieved a seamless integration that honours the past while embracing modern functionality.
As projects move from initial sketches to detailed designs, FORM employs advanced engineering software to enhance precision.
The Newport Community Hub is another example of the firm’s expertise in enhancing community spaces. This centre integrates a modern library and learning space within a refurbished early 1900s Mechanics Institute building, complemented by a striking nine-metre-high louvred glass facade. The design thoughtfully balances the old with the new, providing essential community facilities while preserving and enhancing the building’s historic character.
Additionally, the Bellview Apartments project in Preston demonstrates the firm’s proficiency in residential high-rise construction. Featuring 105 apartments over a nine-storey superstructure, the project included a multi-functional facade system that acts as a safety barrier. The use of in-situ reinforced concrete and precast elements ensures robust construction quality, while the thoughtful design of the facade enhances both the safety and visual appeal of the building, showcasing FORM’s commitment to delivering secure, functional and attractive multi-residential housing.
FORM Engineers has successfully completed more than 400 projects across a variety of sectors, showcasing its ability to innovate and adapt to complex architectural demands.
Looking to the future, Russell is committed to steering FORM Engineers through the evolving challenges of the engineering field, focusing on sustainability, cost management and material innovation. “We remain adaptive to market and environmental changes, utilising advanced design software to minimise material use, which is increasingly important as costs rise. This approach ensures our projects are economically feasible and environmentally responsible.”
With a foundation built on simple yet creative methodologies, FORM Engineers focuses on the essentials of engineering – designing and documenting structures that are both functional and durable. Its dedication to providing straightforward, reliable engineering solutions that meet real-world needs proves that great engineering is fundamentally about creating buildings that are made to last.
