Dr Orr's teaching and research are closely linked to sustainable construction, and improving construction sector productivity. He works in concrete structures, creating new methods for analysis, optimisation, and automation in construction.
Dr Orr has secured research funding totalling £11.2M. He was the first EPSRC Early Career Fellow in Structural Engineering in the UK, and in 2022 he was awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Engineering.
He has built a team around his vision for the design optimisation and lightweighting of existing and future infrastructure by learning from real performance.
Dr Orr graduated with a first class MEng(hons) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Bath in 2009, winning three University Awards. He subsequently completed a PhD in flexible formwork, graduating in 2012.
Before joining the University of Cambridge, Dr Orr was Director of Research and Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Bath Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Dr Orr provides expert consultancy to leading engineering and construction firms.
