Member Spotlight: Design 4 Structures

When Dan Leech talks about engineering, he does not talk about it as a stand-alone discipline. As CEO of Design 4 Structures, he sees it as part of a much bigger picture, one that connects structural and civil engineering, construction modelling, and the realities of project delivery. That integrated mindset is what makes the business stand out.

Rather than simply producing design information, the team focuses on how projects are coordinated, de-risked and delivered more efficiently in practice.

“We don’t just see ourselves as engineers, we look at the full picture and how it all comes together on site.”

Design 4 Structures has also developed a strong specialist capability in offsite and MMC, while maintaining an understanding of traditional construction methods. For Dan, that balance is essential. It means the business can optimise schemes not just for design intent, but for the way they will actually be built.

“You have to understand both, otherwise you can’t optimise a scheme properly for how it’s going to be built.”

Their involvement with the Offsite Alliance came naturally. Having already known Matt and Gaynor for years, joining OA felt like the next logical step. It aligned closely with the company’s own outlook on modern methods of construction and the wider shift toward more industrialised ways of building.

Asked about his favourite OA moment so far, Dan points less to a single highlight and more to the value of the community itself. For him, the biggest benefit has been the consistency of the conversations, open, informed discussions about where the sector is heading, combined with the chance to reconnect with respected peers and meet others tackling similar challenges from different angles.

That spirit of collaboration is something Dan feels strongly about. In his view, effective collaboration begins with early engagement and the right contractual environment. Too often, risk is pushed down the supply chain, which makes people guarded about sharing information. When collaboration works properly, those barriers are reduced, teams align earlier, information flows more openly, and the focus shifts to solving problems together rather than protecting individual positions.

“When you get it right, people open up, information flows, and you’re solving problems together instead of protecting your own position.”

Partnerships have already opened doors for the business. Dan points to a US project delivered alongside Matt Egan’s architectural practice as a clear example of the kind of opportunity that only comes through trusted relationships. It is proof that good partnerships do not just improve delivery, they can expand reach and create possibilities that would otherwise never arise.

As for what Design 4 Structures brings to the sector, Dan is clear: a willingness to step beyond narrow scopes and take ownership. In an industry that often operates within tightly defined boundaries, the company takes a broader view, blending engineering, modelling and delivery thinking to help ensure projects come together successfully.

That approach has been independently recognised too, with Design 4 Structures becoming the first specifier and engineer to achieve Verified by Cast status, reflecting the level of rigour required to take designs through to delivery. It is an approach that fits naturally with manufacturing-led and offsite workflows, even if it sometimes means challenging established ways of working.

If he had a magic wand, Dan would focus on two areas: collaboration and payment practices. Creating contractual frameworks that genuinely support early collaboration, and reduce the fear associated with sharing information, is one. The other is improving payment practices across the industry.

“More consistent payment practices would give businesses greater confidence to invest, grow and innovate, unlocking a lot of latent potential.”

Inside the business, growth is just as much about people as projects. A major focus for the team has been developing talent from within, not only in technical capability, but also in confidence, accountability and leadership. Dan says he is particularly proud of the way individuals have stepped into new roles over the past year, with the company making a conscious effort to promote from within.

Looking ahead, Dan sees real opportunity in a market that is beginning to regain momentum after the disruption of COVID and the impact of the Building Safety Act. He believes the next 12 months will favour businesses that work with progressive clients, those who value collaboration, embrace new approaches and treat partners as part of the delivery team rather than simply suppliers.

For Design 4 Structures, the idea of building better is simple but powerful, bringing the right people together early, taking shared responsibility for delivery, and continuously challenging how things can be done more effectively.