- Gifford’s post-tensioned bridges were the first to be both designed and built in the UK. One in the New Forest is Grade 1 listed and still carries traffic today.
- Gifford invented the Gifford-Udall prestressing system which appears in textbooks around the world.
- Gifford designed the bridge deck for the Tasman Bridge in Hobart using precast segmental externally post-tensioned concrete.
- The first post-tensioned concrete church spire in the UK was a Gifford design.
- Gifford used post-tensioning to strengthen a medieval timber building.
- Gifford won the very first Ministry of Transport bridge design competition for a bridge forming part of the M1 motorway in Yorkshire.
- Gifford was the main structural consultant responsible for the strengthening of Britain’s tallest spire at Salisbury Cathedral.
- Gifford’s first job in London was an alternative for the Elephant & Castle shopping Centre where 25% of the materials in the conforming design were saved.
- Gifford designed a bridge to the Isle of Wight – not yet built!
- Gifford carried out all the development work, including full-scale tests, for a prototype tracked hovercraft transportation system.
- Gifford pioneered a modular hospital system called Nucleus for the NHS and tested full-scale buildings.
- Working with Sir Christopher Cockerell (the inventor of the hovercraft) Gifford conceived and built the very first UK device to generate electricity from waves. This was tested in the Solent and televised at the time.
- For two years Gifford operated the biggest wave energy research laboratory in Europe supported by a Government grant.
- Conceived by Dr E W H Gifford, OBE, “Catfish” fishing boats in kit form have now sold across the third world in tens of thousands.
- Nearly all the sign and signal gantries on Britain’s roads have been Gifford designs for more than 25 years.
- Gifford pioneered the use of epoxy laminated timber for windmill blades – an idea which has now been taken up almost worldwide.
- Gifford was independent checker for the Second Severn Crossing.
- One of the largest ports in the world at Gwadar in Pakistan was designed by Gifford.
- Following the disastrous fire at Windsor Castle in 1994, Gifford was the structural designer for all repairs.
- Gifford designed the 101 span Kwai Chung Viaduct in Hong Kong – our biggest project ever at the time.
- Gifford started designing roads in order to complement its existing bridge design skills.
- Gifford was responsible for writing UK design rules for prestressed concrete bridge design.
- We became the first UK consultancy to offer clients an Archaeology service.
- Gifford was one of two consultants responsible for overseeing assessment of the strength of half the UK’s 1,600 railway overbridges.
- The Gateshead Millennium bridge won more awards for Gifford than any other project in its history.
- The Gifford Archtec system for strengthening masonry arch bridges won the Queen’s Award for Innovation.
- In Dubai Gifford has the largest share of the market for post-tensioned floor design.
- Gifford designed its own studios in Southampton – at the time the lowest energy office buildings in the UK.
- Gifford won the first Highways Agency Design and Build contracts of almost every type and has more kilometres experience of motorway widening in the UK than any other consultant.
- Gifford designed the innovative gantries for the M42 hard shoulder running trial.
© Gifford
