| 55 ENGINEERING Haus Engineering Consultancy T T Kim Newth Consultancy combines big-project experience, with small firm speed Haus offers structural design for new residential and commercial projects, value engineering, temporary works design, structural and seismic assessments, renovation support, construction monitoring and building consent management. From a precast concrete factory in Germany to Auckland’s convention centre, Australian rail projects and a goldmine in Papua New Guinea, Laura Campbell has taken an unusual path to running her own consultancy. Today, that wealth of experience drives Haus Engineering, where a focus on buildability and a flair for effective collaboration deliver quality, cost-effective outcomes. Laura trained in structural engineering and drafting in Germany, specialising in precast panel construction on large commercial projects. After an internship with Beca Ltd in 2015, she moved to New Zealand and started her construction career here the following year with Fletcher Building on the New Zealand International Convention Centre, where her work included designing the two-crane lift of the Hobson Street pedestrian bridge. From there, she moved between different consultancies, including WSP, gaining seismic design experience on civil structures and metro stations in Australia, and spending two months on site at an open-cast goldmine in Papua New Guinea. Seeing construction from the contractor’s side has shaped her approach ever since. “A design that looks good on paper but isn’t easy to build costs the client twice – once in materials and again in time on site,” says Laura, who has not looked back since launching Haus in 2023. “I find it very fulfilling to be fully involved in projects without having to work through layers of management,” she says.. “When clients come to me, they know who they’re dealing with and can expect a speedy response on any issues that arise.” A nimble consultancy like Haus can be a good fit for larger companies too. When Naylor Love and Contact Energy needed specialist support at the Te Huka geothermal power station near Taupō, they turned to Haus to design three masonry buildings for switchboards and services, complete with steel frames that protect sensitive electrical equipment in an earthquake. An exciting project for Haus that finally went ahead this year is the St James Theatre strengthening and restoration in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland which Haus has been involved in since 2024. Laura is the temporary works engineer, advising on construction methodology and sequencing. Haus offers structural design for new residential and commercial projects, value engineering, temporary works design, structural and seismic assessments, renovation support, construction monitoring and building consent management. Contractors regularly call on Haus for temporary works such as trench support, formwork and propping. In the residential sector, Laura regularly works alongside architects and builders on high-end homes on steep or tight sites, which are becoming more common as Auckland intensifies. Looking ahead, she sees Haus growing as a trusted partner for builders, architects and major clients who value dealing directly with a small, responsive consultancy. Laura also hopes to encourage more women into the profession. She believes visibility matters: girls need to see women engineers on site and running their own businesses. “As a woman in construction and engineering, I think it’s important to highlight what we bring to this industry – a lot of creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and a sense of care. It’s just a different approach that adds a lot of value.” “I find it very fulfilling to be fully involved in projects without having to work through layers of management. When clients come to me, they know who they’re dealing with and can expect a speedy response on any issues that arise.”
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