Global engineering company DeSimone Consulting Engineering has released a unique book celebrating the remarkable journey of two visionary engineers who shaped the skyline of Manchester, England, through the structural design of the tallest towers outside London as (dp)2 prior to merging with DeSimone in 2023. The publication of the book was officially launched and celebrated last night at an event in Manchester attended by clients, partners, and friends.
(dp)2 20 Years tells the story of Deborah and Darren Paine’s shared vision and passion for structural engineering innovation—and each other—and how it motivated them to launch their own firm and eventually take on projects of a scale and complexity that most small firms could never deliver.
Conceived by Debs and Darren and written by Hamish Champ, (dp)2 20 Years shares the couple’s unique journey from the hardships and uncertainties of forging a small business in a highly competitive industry to the accolades that cemented their success—and finally to their merger with the US-based DeSimone in 2023.
Image Courtesy of: John Parker Lee
Interweaving their personal quest to balance family with achieving new professional heights, the book follows the Paines from their formative student years to the formation of their own boutique firm, (dp)2, in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England. The book traces the firm’s success from their first small projects of public art installations to bridges and adaptive reuse projects—and ultimately the design of towers that exceed the height of any built in England outside of London.
“Debs and Darren’s story illustrates what vision, partnership, entrepreneurial courage, and engineering excellence can achieve.” Said Stephen DeSimone, Chairman and CEO of DeSimone Consulting Engineering. “While the (dp)2 engineers are now part of DeSimone’s global team, we wanted to share their story and work through the publication of this book. We’re proud to call Debs and Darren Paine, now DeSimone principals, our partners and colleagues.”
With just a dozen staff—and sometimes less—the (dp)2 team made an outsized impact on the transformation of Manchester’s once gritty landscape into a destination city of bold new towers, modern, sustainable homes and office space, and revived cultural and industrial buildings.
Said Darren Paine of the (dp)2 ethos and the decision to merge with DeSimone, “Our goal has always been to achieve good quality engineering work and excel in the structural engineering field. We come at things with the philosophy of looking after our staff and doing projects well. We build relationships with people, whether with our own staff, our clients, or design partners. DeSimone’s take on things is very similar.”
Reflecting on the publication of the book, Debs Paine noted, “Writing a book about what we’ve created as structural engineers is quite unconventional in the business world. But we thrive on forging an independent path true to our vision and values in both our professional and personal lives. Publishing (dp)2 20 Years keeps with that philosophy.” She continued, “That Stephen DeSimone recognized the value of our vision and achievements as (dp)2, and then put his support and faith in us and what we can deliver by bringing us into the DeSimone fold, assures us that the road ahead will be marked by creativity, bold challenges, and expanded opportunities to complete some of the world’s most complex structural designs. The future looks brilliant.”
The book charts the Paines’ work on such landmark structures as the Deansgate Square residential skyscrapers—the South Tower, which at 213 meters is currently the tallest residential building outside London—One Greengate, Exchange Court, and Crown Street Phase I and II. It showcases their early passion for public art, which first brought artist Colin Spofforth’s The Green Man to life, and later, Acrobats, a series of fiberglass figures that appear to hover unsupported in the air along Manchester’s First Street. These projects, and the (dp)2 team’s innovative solutions for making the impossible possible, soon got (dp)2 noticed beyond the confines of West Yorkshire.
Milestone moments along the way are marked in the book with featured projects such as the Citu Bridge, a box-section, arched footbridge—and the longest clear span bridge over the River Aire in Leeds City Centre; the steel-and-acrylic, multi-colored installation built for the Coachella music festival in 2018; and Messenger, a 10-ton sculpture of a woman that stands as the largest bronze sculpture in the UK.
Printed in a limited run by Print Bureau in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England, (dp)2 20 Years is also available for worldwide purchase here.
About DeSimone Consulting Engineering
Founded in New York City in 1969, DeSimone Consulting Engineering provides structural engineering, façade design consulting, integrated design and detailing, and construction consulting services across building types. Known for delivering thoughtful, innovative, and sustainable solutions to clients around the world, the firm places a premium on providing trusted, dedicated service from offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South America, and the Middle East. www.de-simone.com.
Feature Image Courtesy of: John Parker Lee
