Profile
Matthew is the Managing Director and founding partner of Webb Yates & Esther Engineers and is a Chartered Civil & Structural Engineer experienced in the design, management and construction of large complex projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
He is involved throughout the life cycle of construction projects across professional landscapes including client advisory in the development of business and financial plans, feasibility studies, development of project concepts and the execution strategy for the management, design, construction and procurement of mixed use developments.
Matthew is hands-on throughout the design life of a project and relies on the ‘old school’ approach of hand-sketches and quick calculations to develop the fundamentals of a simple, logical and sound concept which evolve from the many alternatives that have been explored. He will challenge established norms where appropriate and subscribes to a philosophy that places constructability at the centre of good design. He is also keen to make use of the latest design tools including 3D, parametric and optimisation technologies to produce innovative and elegant buildings that make efficient use of materials to achieve value, buildability and economy.
Areas Of Expertise
- Design of tall buildings / stadiums / long-span roofs / geometrically complex structures
- Structural optimisation using advanced analysis and computer modelling
- Design, fabrication & construction of steel structures
- Design for construction & value engineering
- Design of modular construction systems
- Seismic analysis & design
- Façade engineering
- Design of light-weight structures
Key Projects
Papers, Publications & Conferences
‘Design of the Sunshade Structures of Dubai’s EXPO 2021’ for the proceedings of the Institution of Structural Engineers – currently under development for publication in 2022.
‘Engineering the Structural Wonders of the UAE – The DIFC Lighthouse, Dubai’ – proceedings of the Conference on Structural Wonders, November 2012 (pages 28-48).
‘Engineering the Structural Wonders of the UAE – The DIFC Lighthouse, Dubai’ – Presented a paper as an invited Speaker at the Conference on Structural Wonders in Singapore, 23 November 2012.
‘The Structural Design of Icon Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates’ The Structural Engineer, proceedings of the Institution of Structural Engineers, Volume 89, issue 7, 5 April 2011 (pages 26-32).
‘Hybrid Solution for Tall Building Structures’ presented at CTBUH World Conference in Mumbai, 5 February 2010.
Honours
Vice-President of the Institution of Structural Engineers – UK (2015/16).
First recipient of the President’s Award (2011) ~ The Institution of Structural Engineers – UK.
Chairman of the Middle East Group of the IStructE (2011/15), Senior & Vice-Chairman 2010, 2012 – 14 and committee member from 2009 to 2018.
Professional Activities
Matthew is committed to the development of the engineers of tomorrow within a studio environment that fosters creativity and encourages professional growth.
He was the organiser and principal lecturer for ten years for the preparation course for the Chartered Membership of the IStructE Exam in the UAE.
He was a regular guest lecturer at Heriot-Watt University, the British University in Dubai, the American University in Dubai and the University of Sharjah and has lectured to students of the University of Stavanger (Norway) and KOers Structural Engineering and Design at the Eindhoven University of Technology (Holland) who were visiting the UAE.
He has been the representative of the IStructE as member of industry for the accreditation of universities in the Middle East by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM).