Burns & McDonnell, the US engineering-construction firm, has opened a new flagship office in central London, bringing the firm’s architecture and engineering expertise to the city.

The new office will serve as the base for Burns & McDonnell’s European mission critical work, focusing on building and servicing data centres for clients across Europe. The firm is currently delivering a pipeline of projects for clients including global tech companies and data centre providers, and is preparing to expand to additional markets.

Mike Starbuck, Burns & McDonnell’s UK director of mission critical, leads the London team. Starbuck has 30 years’ experience of mission critical project work, supporting global businesses including hyperscale and co-location organisations. He joined Burns & McDonnell from a multinational engineering firm, where he has spent 12 years as technical director.

The move continues Burns & McDonnell’s rapid expansion in the UK. It has operated in the US for over 120 years, and opened its first European office in Birmingham in 2017. Since then, Burns & McDonnell has been delivering major transmission and distribution projects in the UK, supporting the country’s transition to net zero. The firm has since moved into larger premises in Birmingham and employs more than 50 staff in the UK.

The new London office, based near Liverpool Street, is Burns & McDonnell’s second permanent base in Europe. It launches with a team of 25 with expertise in mission critical, architecture and engineering. It has scope to accommodate a significant growth in the London team this year, in line with the firm’s long-term investment plan in the UK.

Burns & McDonnell UK’s head of mission critical, Mike Starbuck, said: “At a time when many global businesses are reconsidering their office footprint, we are making a significant investment in this base for our growing London team. This is a key step in Burns & McDonnell’s growth journey in the UK, and an important moment for the European mission critical sector as we bring our innovative approach to the market.”

Robert Bonar, vice-president, Burns & McDonnell’s global head of mission critical, said: “This is a key step for the continued growth of Burns & McDonnell’s global mission critical services. We are delivering for clients globally, so it’s important that our expertise and offices are globally based, too. Mike is superbly qualified to lead our growing team in the UK as we continue to develop our work in the European mission critical market.”

Burns & McDonnell UK’s managing director, Jonathan Chapman, said: “This is another significant milestone for Burns & McDonnell. I’m proud of the progress that the team is making, and the results we have delivered for clients to date in the UK. Our business model has helped to disrupt the UK transmission and distribution sector, and I’m confident that it will also be successful in the European mission critical market.

“As we continue to expand our operations in the UK and Europe, Mike’s team will play a crucial role in helping us to reach new markets and solve complex challenges for clients. Burns & McDonnell’s work on projects in the data centre and T&D sectors is united by a common goal – helping to deliver the infrastructure the UK needs to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the future.”