BG Head Appointed Vice-President of the Swiss Engineers and Architects Association (SIA)

The SIA is 15,000 members strong. It brings together well-known and highly qualified practitioners in the areas of environment, architecture, engineering and industry. Its members "commit to using their strengths and expertise for sustainable, high-quality development of natural assets and the built environment." The SIA’s board, its highest executive body, consists of 13 members. It represents the association externally and coordinates the work of its various entities.

Laurent Vulliet was a founding member and the first dean of the EPFL’s School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). He has always encouraged collaboration among disciplines. His daily experiences as the CEO of BG Consulting Engineers since mid-2008 have convinced him that "more than ever, the increasing complexity of problems demands multidisciplinary teams that are capable of planning together.”

Through his participation in the SIA, he hopes to assist in improving the overall framework leading to the development of a sustainable living environment. Laurent Vulliet notes that, “in Switzerland, professional interests in the field of the natural and built environment are currently too fragmented to be truly effective. The SIA,” he continues, “must work to bring these disciplines together, favour political contacts, develop international relations and encourage both innovation and a changing of the guard so that the relevant professionals can make full use of their talents.”

BG Consulting Engineers
Involved in projects in many different countries, with subsidiaries in Switzerland, France, the UK and Algeria, BG Consulting Engineers, founded in 1954, is a firm of consulting engineers engaged in the fields of infrastructure, environment, building and energy. Owned by its employees, BG has a turnover close to 40 million euros (2008) and growing, and a staff of 370.

SIA
The Swiss Engineers and Architects Association (SIA), founded in 1837, is headquartered in Zurich. It brings together 15,000 highly qualified members and is active in the areas of environment, architecture, engineering and industry. Its current action plan calls for:

• being more proactive in working towards transparent procurement procedures;
• strengthening its position as a respected partner in dialogue and gaining recognition of its expertise by politicians and the government;
• specializing in seeking intelligent and effective solutions for issues of climate change, carbon dioxide and energy efficiency;
• helping to re-work the legal bases of land-use planning and thus the future development of our living space;
• increasing its involvement in discussions about training.

www.sia.ch