ICE award for Structural Engineer Joe Walker

At a recent Nottingham Trent University prize giving ceremony, Graduate Structural Engineer Joe Walker was rewarded for his hard work and dedication during his time at university.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) recognised Joe’s efforts by awarding him the ‘ICE prize for outstanding performance over both penultimate and final years’!

Joe joined Rodgers Leask in July 2023 shortly after completing his degree in Civil Engineering BEng (Hons) where he graduated with 1^st Class honours.

On the degree course, Joe said ‘I particularly enjoyed the final year group project where we were tasked with solving the (partially fictional) problem of Nottingham’s antiquated combined sewer network discharging to the canal during storm events.

Having chosen to specialise in structural engineering 2 years prior, the project presented an interesting and new challenge. The solution our team settled on introduced a large below ground storage tank to attenuate stormwater and allow it to be gradually released at a controlled rate to the treatment plant downstream.

Recognising the importance of sustainability in the built environment, we also introduced Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) features such as rain gardens and permeable paving across the city to provide elements of source control to help further limit the volume and rate of surface water entering the combined sewer system.’

Having secured a graduate role, Joe is now keen to expand his knowledge base and apply his university experience to real-world construction projects.

Outside of work, Joe is a keen cyclist with a number of big race events coming up in 2024.

We wish Joe every success in his future career and best of luck with the upcoming races!