Herzog & De Meuron’s sleek, minimal design for University of Oxford’s school of government meant Hoare Lea’s mixed-mode ventilation system had to be discreet, as well as technically savvy. Executive mechanical engineer Richard Brimfield explains how the consultant worked within the architect’s design parameters to ensure the building performed well
Author: Alex Smith
Using weather data to make buildings climate proof
Climate change means CIBSE’s updated weather files are imperative for building energy and overheating risk analysis. Liza Young explains the new data sets and finds out whether the methodology for applying them is up to the task
On a mission: using data to optimise heat networks
Gareth Jones and Casey Cole are using big data to expose the real performance of domestic heat networks. Alex Smith finds out how their disrupter technology could see the industry adopting a Passivhaus-style target approach
The Well Building Standard: getting the measure of health and productivity
The Well Building Standard is claimed to be the first evidence-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring building features that impact on health and wellbeing. Liza Young reports
The UK’s largest Passivhaus: University of Leicester’s Centre for Medicine
The University of Leicester’s Centre for Medicine is the largest project in the UK to gain Passivhaus certification. Andy Pearson looks at how outstanding teamwork between the contractor, engineer and architect ensured a winning scheme
What Brexit would mean for European Standards
With an EU referendum set for June, organisations must now consider the implications of a Brexit seriously. Hywel Davies looks at what a ‘No’ vote would mean for the implementation of European Standards in the UK
The road to salvation – what can engineers do to slow climate change?
Guests at the Rumford Club debate last month were given two contrasting visions of the future by Cat Hirst, head of learning and development at the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC). Hirst was the guest speaker at a debate on what the future might look like in a world of advancing technology and finite resources, […]
Max Fordham takes on Britain’s biggest Passivhaus
Camden’s Agar Grove estate is to become the UK’s biggest residential Passivhaus project. Max Fordham’s Bertie Dixon describes the challenges of building an 18-storey tower to the standard, and explains why the council is committed to the low energy code
Roundtable: What’s next for heating, cooling and ventilation?
How does our approach to services need to adapt to tackle issues such as climate change? A CIBSE Journal roundtable, sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric, examined the factors influencing the design of heating, cooling and ventilating – now and in the future. Andrew Brister reports
Thermal expansion and grooved pipe-joining systems
A grooved pipe-joining system is one method of accommodating thermal expansion and contraction in HVAC systems. Victaulic’s Larry Thau explains the technique’s design benefits and mechanical advantages