Steve Watts

About

Steve Watts is a cost consultant with 37 years of experience, largely working from London but with a consistent global outlook that has enabled him to work on various international commissions, as well as deliver many buildings that have changed the London skyline. His CV includes the HSBC HQ at Canary Wharf, The Leadenhall Building, The Shard, 22 Bishopsgate and currently 18 Blackfriars, among others that are transforming the UK’s capital. He has also worked on towers in the Middle East, the Far East and the award-winning Atria in Bogota, Colombia.

He worked for 16 years at Davis Langdon / AECOM before, with his fellow partners, setting up alinea in 2013, an independent cost consultant that enjoyed remarkable success, both commercially and in being recognised by the UK construction industry for its project work and its commitment to service excellence and research. In February 2023 alinea joined forces with the global professional services firm Turner & Townsend, operating in the London real estate cost management market as Turner & Townsend alinea (TTa). TTa is responsible for 370 cost consultants in the UK capital, with an ability, through Steve and his newly-formed global Tall Buildings Group, to support Turner & Townsend internationally.

Steve has been an active member of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat since 2006, contributing to its research and publications and speaking at its conferences. He became a trustee and Treasurer of the Council in 2012 and is its longest serving global Chairman in 2017.-2023. He is currently Vice Chair.

Steve’s strategic vision coupled with his attention to detail have been appreciated by leading clients and designers, as has his passion for helping to set up projects for success. He is a keen advocate for best practice and innovation, for learning lessons from other projects, across geographies and disciplines. He is passionate about using research and insight to underpin this, which has been a key part of his professional life together with his roles at CTBUH.