Thomas O’Driscoll BEng(Hons), AIFireE, MIFSM
Director / Founder
Thomas’ role is to develop bespoke, imaginative and practical fire strategy for a variety of schemes within both monetary and timescale constraints while ensuring maximum architectural freedom is achieved. Thomas has experience in a wide range of sectors including educational, residential, offices, commercial, mixed use developments, railway stations, stadia and warehouses to name a few.
Having a passion for the built environment, Thomas has been heavily involved in the physical implementation of fire strategies. From new build auditing and construction support in residential schemes to remedial works on existing hospital buildings, Thomas has a wide ranging experience in construction methods.
Thomas has previously worked for the fire engineering teams of Astute Fire (Director), WSP and Hoare Lea based out of London. Thomas is highly competent in a variety of fire engineering skills, such as evacuation and CFD Modelling and Fire Dynamics calculations, and has both led and assisted on a variety of projects throughout the UK and internationally.
Previous Employment - Astute Fire (Founder), WSP, Hoare Lea
Selected Career Episodes
The News Building, Shard Quarter, London
The Building involved the fit out of the 18 storey new build office for News UK within the Shard Quarter at London Bridge. As part of the design, there was a desire to increase internal circulation between levels by the use of accommodation stairs. This was achieved through the development of a bespoke fire safety strategy to allow openings in compartment floor and therefore giving greater architectural freedom to the design of the accommodation stairs.
Al Ain Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The scheme included a new 25,000 seat football stadium, commercial properties, retail and residential areas for the Crown Prince Court (CPC). The fire engineering role was to guide the design team through the development review process and to assist in the detailed design for each element of the scheme. This involved undertaking the fire engineering design, and seeking to achieve agreement with the Statutory Authorities in Al Ain.
ExCel Exhibition Centre – Phase 2, London
The Phase 2 works added an additional 36,000m2 of hall space to the existing building. Thomas’ role included undertaking evacuation modelling and desktop studies to achieve approval of extended travel distances. Thomas was also responsible for delivering the final package at practical completion collating all design information and Statutory Authority discussions. ExCel Phase 2 won the 2011 LABC London award for Best Technical Innovation for the fire engineering design.
Other Notable Experience
Commercial Office - AMEX House Brighton. Imperial West Scheme. My Place Luton. Zaha Hadid London Office Extension.
Residential and Mixed -use - Woodlands Post Graduate Accommodation. Imperial College London. Henry Moore Court London. Greenwich Reach. Kidbrooke Development, London. Royal Arsenal Riverside, London.
International and Large Scale Developments - National Gymnastic Arena Azerbaijan. ExCel Exhibition Centre – Phase 2 London. Al Ain Stadium Abu Dhabi. King Khaled International Airport Saudi Arabia. Hamad International Airport Development, Qatar
Education - University of Oxford, Various Sites. Imperial College London Various Sites. Royal Academy of Music, London. Newham BSF, Various Sites. Tower Hamlets BSF, Various Sites.