engineering.
We have expanded our UK presence with the opening of a new studio in Bristol! Launched in October, the studio is led by AKT II director Chris O’Meara and marks an exciting step in our continued growth.
Since its opening, the Bristol studio has already expanded to a team of four. The new base provides a platform for closer collaboration with local architects, developers, and creative industries, while also strengthening AKT II’s national footprint.
Chris O’Meara brings extensive experience in engineering design and project management, having joined AKT II in 2012. Over the years, he has played a key role in the design and delivery of large-scale residential, commercial, and leisure developments in the UK and internationally. As Project Director, he now leads the Bristol studio, focusing on building relationships in the local area and further establishing AKT II’s presence in the South West.
Chris has worked on a wide range of projects, from early-stage concepts through to completion. He oversaw the delivery of Westquay South in Southampton, a major leisure development featuring 20 restaurants, a bowling alley, and a 10-screen cinema, complete with a striking 28-metre cantilever overhang. He was also instrumental in the delivery of The Marshall Building for London School of Economics by Grafton Architects, a complex structure with architecturally exposed concrete transfers on multiple levels, which completed in 2022. More recently, he has led the structural design of two large commercial developments; Edge London Bridge, an architecturally striking 28 storey tower opposite London Bridge station complete with external bracing and a four storey basement constructed top-down, and 105 Victoria Street, a 15 storey steel frame with industry leading ESG credentials.
With Chris at the helm, the Bristol studio is set to contribute to AKT II’s diverse portfolio of projects, bringing expertise and fresh perspectives to a dynamic and evolving market!
