Alex joined WSP in August 2022 as a Sustainability Consultant and Building Physics Modeller after six years at a niche green building consultancy. But his career has taken some interesting turns before reaching WSP. Alex achieved a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Nelson Mandela University, and later obtained a BTech degree from Walter Sisulu University in East London, while undertaking an apprenticeship that involved testing engine performance for the Ford Motor Company. Alex then joined his father’s air conditioning business for a period, before moving to Johannesburg.
From here, Alex’s attention turned to sustainability. Conducting building energy modelling and analysis, thermal comfort analysis and energy optimisation analysis across residential and non-residential properties, Alex has been recognised in his field of expertise. He was awarded first place in the #NetZeroSubmission category at the Green Building Convention 2022, for the work he did on the Net Zero Carbon - Level 2 project for Fuchs Southern Africa Lubricants Headquarters. He was also a runner-up in the category #RisingGreenStar at the Green Building Council South Africa awards.
“I joined WSP because I wanted an opportunity to build on the experience I have gained doing Green Building certifications for clients by advising them on how to make improvements to their projects,” Alex says. “Working with a multidisciplinary team and engaging not only with other sustainability consultants but multidisciplinary engineering teams as well is exciting and allows me to draw on my mechanical engineering background more.”
For Alex, working with multidisciplinary teams to use the models and analysis he does and provide the professional team and clients with guidance on sustainable building optimisation is satisfying. “The possibility of change motivates me,” Alex says. “Being in a position to collaborate with the professional team on the right sustainability solutions for the project and the client means I can help to drive change in environmental sustainability.”
This means striving to understand the building being designed and find suitable measures to make the building more efficient, from its energy usage to overall building performance. Testing various elements that affect efficiency – such as types of glazing or equipment installed – in his models to find room for improvement and offer this insight to the professional team is a large part of what Alex does.
“I find collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and the practical aspects of being able to visit the building we’re working on together to see what technology or design solutions are being used interesting and insightful,” Alex says. “It helps to see the project taking shape in the real world, beyond my models.”
In his spare time, Alex is dabbling in urban farming at his home. “I’m not very successful yet,” he laughs, “but it’s fun trying to figure out how to get some fresh produce growing in my own garden.”
