Tributes paid to Arup engineer behind 8 Bishopsgate who has died aged 49

The Arup engineer behind Wilkinson Eyre’s 8 Bishopsgate tower in the City of London has died at the age of 49.

Jeremy Edwards, global and UKIMEA property leader at Arup, was the project director behind the 51-storey scheme which completed in 2023.

Widely respected across the industry, Edwards led the engineering design on some of London’s most high profile projects across a near-three decade career including the redevelopment of the former BBC Television Centre and Arup’s own London base at 80 Charlotte Street.

Stuart Lipton, co-founder of developer Lipton Rogers, called Edwards was “one of the great engineers of the 21st century”.

Rogers described Edwards as an “engineering visionary who not only understood the value of engineering but the value of people and place and their relationship with buildings”.

Arup Group chief executive Jerome Frost said Rogers was the “embodiment of Arup”, adding his death had “come as a huge shock to so many of us”.

“Jeremy was a colleague and friend. We worked together, pitched for projects together, and he was a great strength in recent years in offering me advice and support. All my thoughts are with Jeremy’s family, friends and colleagues,” Frost said.

Paula Walsh, Arup UKIMEA managing director, described Edwards as “an exceptional leader, a trusted advisor, and a friend”.

“I had the privilege of working closely with him over many years, and it is hard to put into words just how much he meant to me and to so many of us at Arup,” she added.

“His impact on Arup has been profoundly woven into so many teams and projects and he inspired those around him, leading with both vision, heart and integrity, leaving an enduring legacy. He will be sorely missed.”

Edwards was born in Chatham, Kent in 1975 and studied civil engineering and architecture at the University of Leeds, joining Arup after graduating in 1998.

Initially based in Manchester, he moved to London where he worked on Heathrow Terminal 5 and the air traffic control tower.

He was an internationally competitive runner and co-founder of industry charity adventure race Dig Deeper, which has raised nearly £500,000 for charities Anthony Nolan and 353. His partners at Arup have pledged to continue this fundraising activity.

He leaves behind his wife Carlyn and three children, Lauren, 20, Sophie, 18, and Rory, 12.