Meet the team: 5 Minutes with Antony Gradley

Director of MEP Engineering, Antony Gradley will lead SRVO’s new dedicated MEP Engineering service line, offering MEP design, due diligence, asset management, maintenance and building services management for all sectors.

The launch of the MEP Engineering division significantly broadens SRVO’s technical capabilities, with a particular focus on supporting the increasingly complex operational, compliance and infrastructure demands facing the real estate sector today.

With over 25 years of experience, Antony brings a commercially informed, forward-thinking approach to MEP engineering, strengthening SRVO’s ability to provide integrated multi-disciplinary technical expertise to support clients across complex property and building projects.

We caught up with Antony to learn more about his journey into the built environment sector, his varied experience across MEP construction, design and consulting, and the standout projects that have shaped his career across hospitality, residential, commercial, healthcare and hotels.

Which recent project are you most proud of, and what did it teach you?

One recent project I am particularly proud of is Borough Yards in London Bridge. The scheme created a strong community hub feel around the lanes and spans over 200,000 sq ft, comprising two office buildings, an Everyman Cinema, around 50 retail units, and a mix of food, beverage and leisure facilities. These are all served by a central energy centre providing district heating and cooling.

The project reinforced how important early-stage coordination is on large construction developments. Aligning design, programming and logistics from the outset is vital to ensuring a coordinated delivery. It also taught me the value of patience at key stages of a complex project.

Which of our values resonates most with you, and how do you live it day-to-day? Innovation, Integrity, Collaboration, Transparency

I consider myself a forward-thinking engineer, so Innovation naturally resonates with me. I believe successful projects rely on new ideas, practical thinking and a willingness to improve how things are done.

However, Integrity is the value I stand by most strongly. For me, it means being honest, reliable and consistent in the way I approach my work. I also believe that transparency and collaboration are essential to project success, particularly when working with different teams, consultants and stakeholders.

Describe your journey into property. What first drew you to the industry?

I’ve worked in MEP construction and design consulting for over 25 years and throughout that time I have always been closely connected to both people and property. Moving into the property sector felt like a natural next step in my career.

It gave me the opportunity to continue applying my engineering skills while also making a broader difference to the way buildings are managed, maintained and improved for the people who use them.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting in your sector, what would it be?

Don’t rush through your learning. Take the time to build strong foundations and develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals.

That base knowledge will support you throughout your career and help you progress with more confidence later on.

What’s the most memorable or interesting thing you’ve seen on site or during a project?

One of the most memorable projects I worked on was the design and construction monitoring of a new vineyard pressing plant in Sussex. The building was designed to sit within the landscape, following the theme of rolling hills.

It was a great experience to attend the switch-on stage, see the pressing plant machinery come to life, and witness the excitement of a new beginning for the winemaker.

What’s your favourite building?

I wouldn’t say I have one single favourite building. I think both old and new buildings offer different perspectives and show how design, engineering and construction have progressed over time.

That said, I have always been drawn to sports and live performance arenas. The coordination of services, acoustics, guest comfort and the energy of the crowd make them particularly interesting spaces from an engineering perspective