Working collaboratively with the architect during the early stages of design, we seek to maximise the inherent potential for passive environmental design. Through the application of natural ventilation, passive solar heating, daylight harvesting and thermal mass cooling, we can often improve building performance without increasing cost.
Harnessed effectively, designing for daylight can complement the architectural quality and character of a space while significantly reducing the energy demand of electric lighting. In addition, well day-lit environments promote occupant well-being and productivity. Our specialist teams use daylight modelling software to inform the design of building facades, light wells and atria. Our goal is to harvest beneficial natural light while mitigating the potentially detrimental side effects of glare and solar heat gain. We ensure that daylight and electric lighting designs are complementary, both in terms of energy efficiency and architectural aesthetic.
Our holistic approach to building energy modelling is an indispensable tool in developing facade solutions that maintain architectural character while delivering on energy, daylight and comfort.
Our work also involves tracking a building’s post-occupancy energy, water, and thermal comfort performance against our predictive models, highlighting discrepancies, recommending corrective actions and overseeing their implementation. Our teams are already designing buildings that are being held to performance bond contracts, and we expect this to be the way of the future. With the integration of modern methods of construction, we can achieve even higher levels of sustainability and efficiency in building design, construction and performance.