The Passing of Dr Wilem Frischmann CBE

Dr Frischmann’s contribution to our business and to the engineering profession was remarkable. He joined C. J. Pell & Partners in 1958, became a partner in 1961 and was appointed Chairman in 1968. With his long-time business partner, Sudhu Prabhu, he grew a small London engineering practice from around 30 employees into an internationally respected multidisciplinary consultancy employing more than 1,000 people.

What began as a modest firm became a global business, with offices across the UK and internationally, delivering award-winning projects worldwide.

His career was defined by technical excellence, innovation and a lasting belief in what engineering can achieve. He played a leading role in the design and delivery of some of the United Kingdom’s most recognisable developments, including Centre Point, Tower 42 and Drapers Gardens. His work helped reshape London’s skyline and established structural solutions that continue to influence the profession today.

Born in 1931 of Hungarian descent, Dr Frischmann survived the Holocaust before arriving in Britain as a refugee. Through determination, intellect and a lifelong curiosity for engineering, he built a career that left a lasting mark on cities around the world. His personal journey remains a powerful story of resilience, opportunity and achievement.

He continued to push at the boundaries of what engineering could achieve. Alongside the landmark buildings for which he became best known, he led some of the profession’s most significant commissions. When the 22-storey Ronan Point tower partially collapsed in 1968, killing four people, the Treasury appointed him to report on the background and causes of the failure. His findings contributed to a fundamental rethinking of how tall prefabricated buildings were designed and regulated, leading to the strengthening of similar blocks across the country. He also led the assessment and protection of Mansion House in the City of London against ground movement caused by the Docklands Light Railway extension, work he published through the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1994. This work established Pell Frischmann’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading consultancies for technically challenging engineering.

Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 for services to engineering, he shaped the culture that still defines Pell Frischmann: innovation, collaboration and lasting value for clients and communities. As Chairman, he looked beyond the United Kingdom and built a global presence and a reputation for engineering excellence.

Perhaps no project better represents his legacy than Centre Point. Early in his career, he helped create one of London’s most recognisable landmarks through structural solutions that were new to their time. Decades later, Pell Frischmann returned to lead the structural engineering for its transformation from offices into a leading residential development and public destination. It was a fitting full-circle moment, reflecting both the longevity of his influence and the strength of the firm he built.

On behalf of everyone at Pell Frischmann, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and former colleagues around the world.