Pinnacle: Advice you can build on Pinnacle is one of Ireland’s and the UK’s leading Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancies based in Dublin and across three locations in England. Established in 1996 by Chris Bailey and David Meigh, Pinnacle has grown through alliances and partnerships to provide clients with all of their consultancy needs under one roof. Pinnacle offers a range of services including feasibility, flood risk assessment, civil engineering and structural design and prides itself on creating sustainable structures. Strength in numbers Pinnacle started life in Norwich and a further two offices in the UK are in Welwyn Garden City and Chippenham, Wiltshire. Pinnacle’s Dublin office, headed up by James Mayer, gives the company an important footing in Ireland’s thriving construction industry. Drawing on the successful model in the UK, Pinnacle formed an alliance with Quantity Surveyors and Joseph Doyle Architects, a forward thinking firm of architects at the forefront of commercial, retail and residential developments. Pinnacle is committed to customer service and believes that offices in locations of relevance to its clients enables them to offer an enhanced and more effective service.

Pinnacle was instrumental in helping Tesco develop this sustainable store in Cambridgeshire

A loyal following Pinnacle’s considerable growth since 1996 is testament to its loyal clients. One of these clients, Tesco, is Pinnacle’s largest customer. Every year, Pinnacle assesses over 400 prospective sites on behalf of Tesco has been involved in over 500 projects, one of which is the world’s first zero carbon supermarket. Pinnacle was instrumental in helping Tesco develop this sustainable store in Cambridgeshire. The company’s extensive experience in environmentally-friendly building solutions coupled with its passion for pushing boundaries in sustainability led to Pinnacle recommending a number of low carbon initiatives. Unusually for a supermarket, the store features a structure made entirely from timber. Pinnacle used advanced design methods to create a structural frame that met planning and retail requirements and could be erected quickly and safely without compromising the construction programme. The building also required a sustainable drainage system and Pinnacle’s expertise in hydrology, an extremely specialist area, meant this could be achieved.

Pinnacle's James Mayer Director Water, water everywhere Flood risk assessment and the science of hydrology is an area in which Pinnacle excels and which is of increasing importance as the world’s climate continues to change. All developments in Ireland and the UK now require a Flood Risk Assessment and Pinnacle’s specialist engineers have a wealth of experience in this area. Interestingly, the industry is facing a shortage of hydrologists and Pinnacle believes that this dearth in such a skilled area couldn’t come at a worse time for the industry. Fortunately, Pinnacle has recently recruited a hydrologist although this followed a six-month search. Nick Kohli is a Director at Pinnacle and said: “The lack of hydrologists couldn’t have come at a worst time. With environmental changes having an increasing impact on water flow and the risk of flooding, coupled with the need to provide sustainable drainage, the importance of qualified and experienced hydrologists has never been so crucial.” Hydrology is integral to the construction industry and Pinnacle’s experts ensure that any new structure or building complies fully with Irish and UK policy. Leading the way Through the years Pinnacle has developed close working relationships with a portfolio of Blue Chip clients from a variety of sectors. Pinnacle believes that by listening to its clients, their requirements are always met with a tailored solution and the company always endeavours to exceed expectations. In November 2009, Pinnacle launched its new brand. Despite the recession through which other consultancies were struggling to survive, Pinnacle re-branded to show both existing and potential clients that the company is resilient and instead of shying away would stand strong and even grow during the recession. This positive attitude and wise business decision has ensured that Pinnacle has gone from strength to strength. Pinnacle has continued to be a successful company due to its ethos of being at the forefront of innovation and providing a first-class and cost-effective service for clients. Pinnacle strives to be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible and has developed a range of original initiatives in order to achieve sustainable projects. Pinnacle Ireland Grosvenor Court 67a Patrick Street Dun Laoghaire Co Dublin Tel: +353 1 231 1041 Fax: +353 1 231 1065 E-mail: james.m@adviceyoucanbuildon.com Website: www.adviceyoucanbuildon.com