Sustainable Structural Design in Action: Matter’s First Social Impact Report
Matter believes that human-centred, sustainable structural design not only creates social value, it also makes good business sense. Our new Social Impact Report shows the measurable social and environmental impact we’re making, in our local community of South East London and beyond.
How we make a measurable social impact
At Matter, we believe structural design should do more than make buildings stand up, it should make a positive impact on people, communities, and the planet. Since founding, we’ve been committed to embedding social and environmental responsibility into every project.
“I founded Matter in 2017, with a commitment to designing better buildings that make a positive difference to both people and planet. Backed by extensive experience working at some of the world’s top design and engineering firms, I was determined to create an approach to human-centred, sustainable structural design that also makes sound business sense.”
Christina Hsieh, Matter’s founder
Why social and environmental value matters
Since the Procurement Act 2023, all companies bidding for public sector work must demonstrate their social value. Local authorities increasingly expect commitments to:
fair employment practices
skills and training opportunities
supporting the local economy
environmental sustainability.
We’ve built these principles into our work from the very beginning. Our new one-page Social Impact Report makes it simple for procurement teams to see that the outcomes we deliver are clear, measurable, and aligned with community priorities.
How we’re making a difference in our community
We started Matter with the conviction that structural engineering with social and environmental impact can strengthen communities and create resilience. Our recent projects in South East London demonstrate this commitment:
Affordable housing in Greenwich – By rethinking foundation design, we cut concrete use, reduced costs, and lowered carbon emissions. This freed up budget to deliver more community benefit. It’s an example of how sustainable structural design creates value beyond the building itself.
Flood-resilient homes in South East London – In flood-prone areas, we engineered housing that remains safe, recovers quickly, and uses low-carbon materials without compromising strength. Protecting residents is paramount, and safeguards public investment.
At Matter, we always think about a building in context, considering the wellbeing and needs of the people who own and use that building, as well as the benefit to the local community. Our projects evidence how structural design for social value benefits people, the planet, and the economy.
How we’re supporting growth and the next generation
For us, social value extends into the future. We actively support the circular economy in construction by prioritising sustainable structural design, cost-efficient solutions, and materials that strengthen local supply chains.
We’re also committed to investing in people and we have a history of mentoring young designers. Over the past year, we’ve welcomed apprentices and students into our practice, helping the next generation of engineers build skills and confidence. One degree apprentice told us his time at Matter made him a stronger engineer, proving that knowledge-sharing creates impact beyond a single project.
Why we’re trusted by local authorities
At a recent event run by Lewisham Council, they shared four key areas of social value that they want their partner firms to demonstrate. We are really happy that our approach aligns with the four priority areas they set out:
Core Commitments – paying the Real Living Wage
Employment & Skills – training apprentices and mentoring young engineers
Economy & Growth – supporting local supply chains
Environment, Community & Space – designing low-carbon, resilient buildings.
Public sector partners can trust that working with Matter delivers measurable outcomes for local communities.
How we show the measurable outcomes of our work
Our first Social Impact Report demonstrates how structural engineers can deliver social and environmental impact in ways that are practical, measurable, and replicable.
With Matter, you get more than structural design — you get a partner committed to social value, environmental responsibility, and building a sustainable future.