Arup
Breathing new life into a 30-year-old system
The Challenge
Arup's BUS Methodology has long helped researchers understand how building design affects occupant experience. But after three decades, the system had become outdated. Insights were trapped in legacy tools, data was difficult to access, and the underlying technology couldn't scale to meet modern needs.
To restore its relevance, Arup needed a complete transformation, a modern, modular platform that could unlock data, support cutting-edge research, and set the stage for future innovation.
We reimagined the BUS Methodology as a fully integrated digital platform, built from the ground up for performance, usability, and extensibility.
Outcomes
At its core is a powerful REST API that allows seamless data access and manipulation. On top of this, we delivered a clean, modern interface that makes it easy for users to manage surveys, explore insights, and generate reports.
To support deeper research, we created a Python analysis toolkit, helping Arup's teams turn complex data into meaningful stories, and making advanced workflows more accessible than ever.
Data access is now three times faster, research is more agile, and the system has gone from legacy constraint to recognised innovation.
The impact was immediate. The platform was shortlisted for the CIBSE Building Performance Awards and earned a commendation in Arup's own Digital Transformation Awards, proving its value both internally and across the industry.
Project Summary
Our collaboration began with discovery workshops to understand the system's pain points and future potential. From there, we designed a modular architecture that could scale, bringing together an API-first backend, a user-friendly React frontend, and an extensible data toolkit in Python.
Throughout, we focused on performance, usability, and maintainability. Each part of the system was built with documentation and real-world examples in mind, making the platform not just a tool, but a springboard for Arup's wider digital ambitions.
This wasn't just a rebuild, it was a reinvention, grounded in deep technical thinking and close collaboration with Arup's internal teams. Today, the BUS platform is helping shape better buildings and stronger research, a benchmark for digital transformation in the built environment.