How does infrastructure investment shape lives and communities? Find out why future-focused planning matters in this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 episode...

When it comes to our infrastructure systems in the UK, focusing on the short-term can often lead to more extensive long-term costs. From potholes and power outages to rail disruptions and water shortages, under-investment impacts everyone.

As climate risks and societal demands grow, the need for proactive infrastructure planning has never been greater. Infrastructure innovation isn’t just about engineering - it’s about resilience, wellbeing, and quality of life.

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan are Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

Building for Resilience: How can our UK infrastructure be future-proofed against a changing climate? Find out more in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5 episode...

The UK has seen a rise in extreme weather. Storms that were once ‘one-in-20-year' events now happen annually, while flooding and heatwaves dominate headlines. These events are no longer rare and our critical systems are under stress like never before.

Resilience and climate goals are intertwined. Without robust infrastructure, carbon reduction efforts stall, and nature-based solutions fail. The cost of inaction isn’t just financial - it is environmental and societal. From re-defining design standards to integrating solutions across sectors, there is much that can be done to overcome these challenges.

This topic is discussed in this week’s Sandbox FOMO5, taken from our latest podcast episode, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’.

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan are Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

What does ‘resilience’ really mean when it comes to infrastructure?

It is more than just bouncing back from disruption. As Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, explains in our latest episode of Sandbox, resilience is about designing systems that can adapt to change, and recover quickly - especially in the face of climate events, energy crises, or digital disruptions.

Infrastructure is deeply interconnected, and our ability to respond to emergencies depends on how well these systems work together. That is why integration matters. Resilience can’t be built in silos. It requires joined-up thinking, from policy and planning to investment and implementation.

In this short FOMO5 episode, taken from the full episode, Paula joins host Andy Duncan and fellow Buro Happold expert Chris Glover, Director of Utilities and Energy, to explore how integrated infrastructure can help us build a more resilient, sustainable future.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour.

How can major infrastructure be designed for tomorrow’s challenges?

From powering our homes to connecting cities, infrastructure is the backbone of modern life - yet it often goes unnoticed.

In our latest episode of Sandbox, ‘Resilient by design: Infrastructure for a sustainable future’, our Buro Happold experts unpack what it really means to design infrastructure that is ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

Tune in to discover:

• What resilience means in the context of infrastructure, and why it matters now more than ever.

• How climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience must evolve together.

• Why long-term thinking, cross-sector collaboration and smarter policy are essential to futureproofing our built environment.

Our regular host Andy Duncan is joined by Buro Happold experts Paula Gough, UK Infrastructure Development Director, and Chris Glover, Director, Utilities and Energy.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

What could a stadium look like in 2045? Our panel ‘header’ into the future in our latest ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5...

From holographic sports games to multi-use community hubs and immersive concert experiences, the future of UK stadia is bursting with possibility.

Taken from our latest ‘Sandbox’ episode, ‘Beyond the Game: Energising community spaces’, this short episode explores visionary ideas of what innovations could be made to stadia in 20 years' time.

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

The future of stadia design: Built for the next generation, by the next generation.

Designing the stadiums of tomorrow involves a mix of considerations - from retrofitting existing structures to enhancing community impact and meeting sustainability goals.

In this week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5, taken from our latest episode ‘Beyond the game: Energising community spaces’, Paul Eddleston explores his work around designing community-centric stadia through Buro Happold’s Urban C:lab initiative, which encourages professionals to think creatively about the future of the built environment.

In the short episode, Paul discusses challenging traditional assumptions and re-thinking stadiums as vibrant, inclusive hubs that serve far more than just sport – they also unlock new possibilities for local communities.

Paul said: “We can turn around the thought of how we design, to be designed for everything but sport.

“We have the sport nailed, so maybe we can think of the building in terms of the 340 days it’s not in use and the sport will come naturally.”

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).

How could rethinking a stadium's infrastructure needs create a powerful new sense of place?

It’s not just about what happens on the pitch. With tens of thousands of fans attending major events, the infrastructure around a stadium plays a huge role in shaping the overall experience - from crowd flow and transport to public spaces and connectivity.

In our latest Sandbox FOMO5, Buro Happold’s Colin Byrne explores how stadiums can become powerful anchors for wider urban improvement:

• Colin highlights opportunities to integrate transport and utilities, using Wembley Stadium as an example, where over 8,000 homes have been built nearby to boost local connectivity.
• He also emphasises the importance of well-designed public spaces that allow fans to move in and out smoothly, helping to diversify access points and reduce congestion.
• And it doesn’t stop at the final whistle. By offering more amenities and entertainment before and after matches, stadiums can encourage staggered arrival and departure times, making the experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast). 

How could stadia become the new heart of their community beyond game day? That was the question put to our guests in this episode…

With the weekend on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to ‘kick back’ and listen to our sportiest episode yet of ‘Sandbox’.

Stadia are more than just venues for sport - they’re economic and cultural powerhouses that bring people together. But what happens when the final whistle blows? And how can their full potential be unlocked for local communities all year round?

This week’s ‘Sandbox’ FOMO5 dives into ways to re-imagine stadium spaces - from hosting concerts and school events to transforming underused areas into vibrant community hubs.

Joining our regular host Andy Duncan in this episode, were Buro Happold experts Rob Amphlett, Partner, Colin Byrne, Partner and Paul Eddleston, Senior Design Manager.

Subscribe to the whole series; Sometimes we’ll tackle a subject head on, sometimes a sideways view - but always with curiosity, expertise and maybe even a dash of humour. 

This podcast series is brought to you by Buro Happold (https://buro.im/SandboxPodcast).