Mike Lake graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1973 and became a registered engineer in 1976. He gained extensive experience in design and project management across a range of companies before establishing Lake Engineering Consultants Ltd (LEC) in 1982.

A major highlight of Mike’s career was his appointment as Principal Consultant for the highly successful New Zealand Expo Pavilion at the 1992 World Expo in Seville, Spain.

After 23 years of operation, LEC closed in 2005, leading to the formation of Abacus Engineering Ltd. Abacus Engineering is primarily a structural engineering consultancy, while maintaining a broad capability across a range of specialised engineering disciplines.

In building design, Abacus Engineering applies displacement-based design, recognising its superior accuracy and efficiency compared with traditional force-based methods. The firm also designs a wide range of temporary structures, sculptures, and industrial structures.

The Abacus Engineering team brings additional expertise in forensic investigations, fatal accident reporting, and fire engineering, providing a well-rounded and highly experienced consultancy.