+27(0) 11 463 5226
BSM Baker
BSM Baker is a Structural and Civil Engineering practice based in Johannesburg.
The company was established in 2000, as a result of the merger between Butterworth Smith McLintock and G.M. Baker and Associates, solidifying BSM Baker as a leading Consulting Structural and Civil Engineering firm.
We have experience executing projects nationally and internationally in the industrial, commercial, petrochemical, retail and township service sectors. This has resulted in an extensive client base including clients of more than twenty-five years standing.
An International Footprint
With over 21 years of operating on the continent and more than 4000 projects across Africa, BSM Baker has both the knowledge and experience in the unique African civil engineering market.
With our involvement in numerous commercial projects in Ghana, most recently the Accra and Kumasi Malls, BSM Baker have made their mark in this economically booming country. Our ability to adapt and adjust our scope of work to suit the unique African building environment have contributed to the successful implementation of these notable commercial developments.
In the industrial development sector, BSM Baker has partnered with South African and International companies to provide structural and civil engineering solutions to projects in the petrochemical, light industrial and mining sectors. Our customised, innovative, and economic design approach to industrial developments has earned us a reputation as leaders in structural engineering consultancy for the Glass and Bottle Production industry. This has led us to working with some of the largest Glass production machinery suppliers in the world and have completed work in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chile, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, USA, EU and UK.
In South Africa, our office in Johannesburg provides regional clients with high quality, international standard service responding to the growing market demand. Our understanding of the local market standards, procedures and challenges is equalled only by the continental and global skills and experience, providing forward thinking solutions.
Our Engineering Approach
Get in from the Start
BSM Baker promotes early involvement of structural engineering input in order to create a viable, cost-effective end product. We endeavour to provide our clients with proactive consultation with intention to reduce risk and achieve long-term efficiency. Our experience in the construction industry enables us to provide our clients with preliminary foresight relating to construction methods, budget considerations and expected construction timelines. The value our clients receive at this inception stage is often realised at the final stages of the project.
Do it Right, Do it Once
In a market of increasingly high material costs, demanding delivery timelines and necessity to efficiently manage resources, the benefit of selecting the best design alternative cannot be overstated. Our commitment to comprehensive consideration and clear presentation of the risks, benefits, and long-term implications of different design options to the client and design team has become an invaluable part of our structural and civil engineering services, enabling an effective design and construction process.
Drone Technology
Recent technological advances have led to BSM Baker spearheading the use of drones in the construction industry. On the Saldanha oil storage facility, we have made use of drones to time map production using the exact same flight path each flyover. This provides a digital record of progress against which programme can be measured. At the same time, quantities of bulked material can be accurately measured to provide figures to the quantity surveyor to verify claims. On other structural and civil engineering projects we have used this technology to survey existing structures.
To further improve BSM Baker’s extensive resources, an underwater drone has been purchased to allow for safe inspections of pipelines and tanks.
Flexibility & Adaptability
Being a medium sized engineering consulting practice, BSM Baker is structured to respond to requirements, new scope and changes with ease and efficiency. Our teams rely on close and frequent communication to receive, assess, analyse, and respond to queries, revisions, and new requirements with minimal impact on overall project timeline.
Our advanced modelling and 3D design programs (REVIT, TEKLA, TEKLA Structural Designer and PROKON) allow us to easily and effectively design and analyse the full structure rather than individual elements. The 3D programs, both design and modelling enable the user to instantaneously and seamlessly revise, change and adapt the structure during the design process.
Keeping up with the Technology
BSM Baker have made it our priority to transform both our draughting and design systems to parametric modelling software. This enables us to simultaneously work on different parametric modelling platforms which are then fed and coordinated into a Building Information Modelling (BIM) software. This can now be incorporated into a 5D system where the design, construction and estimated costs can be combined to produce an overall view of the project in real time. The BIM tool allows us to provide accurate and high-performance solutions responding to today’s complex demands. Features such as 3D display, services integration, and clash detection, lead to smoother, faster design process and eventual high-quality deliverables for construction.
Engineering Resources
We have highly qualified and experienced professional engineers that are supported by technical and administrative staff, enabling us to execute contracts varying in size and complexity.
All BSM Baker executed work is computer generated. To enable this, every employee has a desktop at their workstation.
We regard ongoing training as well as hardware and software upgrades as essential tools in the maintenance of efficiency and economy of production offered by the latest technology.
A local area network ensures continuous and instantaneous flow of information between workstations plotters and the server. All workstations are connected to an open internet fibreoptic line, which guarantees continuous quality communication between our offices, clients, other consultants, and contractors.