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The London Aquatics Centre has become a hugely successful part of the community with more than two million visitors

Olympics dreams and urban regeneration

See how the London 2012 Olympics not only inspired a generation of sports stars, but has also created a dynamic, environmentally friendly community in East London – with high-tech housing, thousands of new jobs and top-quality sports, leisure and arts facilities.

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The post-Olympics landscape has been transformed with more than 35km of pathways and cycleways, 6.5km of waterways and 4,300 trees

Laura Collins, Young Surveyor of the Year

"I’m lead consultant on a project in Amsterdam for an Australian client: so, I’m liaising across time zones. I like getting out into the world. I find it fascinating to see how other countries approach construction and to expand my knowledge."

Richard Serra and the new Spurs stadium

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The new Tottenham Hotspur stadium has a capacity of more than 62,000 and features a retractable pitch

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The stadium development has created 2,000 full-time local jobs

"I chose a career in the built environment to make positive change and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a building through from the first concept sketches to seeing it occupied and enjoyed."

Urban regeneration: improving lives and protecting the environment

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The aim was to build a sustainable community, with large and improved public spaces and children’s play areas

Woodberry Down is an innovative urban regeneration project with breathtaking views over the City of London that is creating 5,500 new homes on the banks of two reservoirs and enhancing an area previously suffering with major social issues. 

The project is building a sustainable community committed to the natural environment, energy conservation and large public spaces with engaging children’s play areas. Community activities range from yoga and cookery classes to an outdoor summer film festival. Shops, a health centre and a school are all part of the development. Waterside parks provide space for runners and one of the reservoirs offers sailing, kayaking and canoeing. The Woodberry Wetlands nature reserve, opened in April 2016 by the London Wildlife Trust and patron Sir David Attenborough, is a protected oasis for wildlife and residents alike.

The Woodberry Down project shows how surveyors and the construction industry can work with local councils, property developers, housing associations and local residents to improve a community and enhance individual lives.

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The Woodberry Wetlands nature reserve is a protected oasis for wildlife

Tackling global issues: sustainable building and the environment

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Earl's bamboo Cubo concept is being used to house slum dwellers in the Philippines

"Bamboo is a long-term solution that is sturdy, durable and provides dignified housing. Recent advancements in materials engineering have made bamboo a viable and low-cost material for creating cities."

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Earl Patrick Forlales

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Auckland has created a network of dedicated cycleways

Improving health through fitter cities

"Active" transport systems are being developed around the world to encourage running, walking and cycling: reducing pollution, protecting the environment and improving public health.

In Auckland, New Zealand, the bright pink Te Ara I Whiti cycleway replaced a major freeway and connects with a network of dedicated cycle routes. And each Sunday in the Colombian capital, Bogota, 60 miles of roads are closed to motor vehicles, clearing the streets for up to two million cyclists.

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Reducing pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing cities – and surveyors – around the world

Why I chose a surveying apprenticeship

"Surveying is such an interesting career. The people you meet help you to grow. You can get involved in interesting projects which have relevance in the world today, allowing you to get out of the office and look at amazing buildings and interact with great people."