Structural engineers – Ove Arup and Partners

Arup, as it is now called, is a firm of engineering consultants founded in 1946 by Ove Arup. The website describes him as ‘a gifted engineer-philosopher’ which even if it is true goes to show that you should never give the marketing people too free a hand. Arup is still an independent firm. Sydney Opera House, the Pompidou Centre, Terminal 5 – there really is a long list. The Barbican Estate need not feel ashamed to be counted in that list.

Service engineers – G H Buckle and Partners

Chamberlin Powell and Bon also relied on them when they designed and built New Hall in Cambridge University in the 1960s. They worked on the London Coliseum in St Martins Lane in 1947. Their office address then was 2 Harrington Gardens in London. I have not been able to find out more.

Quantity surveyors – Davis Belfield and Everest

They were the editors of ‘Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book’ which went through many editions which are still sold online. In 1931 Owen Davis, aged 23, set set himself up as a chartered quantity surveyor near Holborn. John Belfield joined him and they set up a partnership, Davis & Belfield, in 1935. Bobbie Everest – a descendent of George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843 who was the first man to measure the height of Mount Everest, which was then named after him – joined them in 1944 and the firm became Davis, Belfield & Everest. They carried out the Barbican work. In 1988 the firm amalgamated with Langdon & Every to become Davis Langdon & Everest. There were several more name and partner changes and the combined firm became a global – mainly asian – business. It was bought by an international firm called Arcadis in 2012.