The Design for Performance initiative is partnering with pioneering developers to create a performance-in-use rating scheme in the UK that could transform office design and delivery, as Liza Young finds out
Category: General
Train of thought – Elizabeth line lighting concept
GIA Equation’s Keith Miller explains the overarching principles behind the lighting concept for the Elizabeth line, Europe’s largest infrastructure project
Natural selection – measuring the effects of the Biophilic Office
A major BRE study on biophilic office design will focus on how lighting impacts on the wellbeing of occupants. BRE’s Flavie Lowres describes the aims of the project
High streetwise – SLL’s guide to retail lighting
The SLL has published its first guide to retail lighting. Jill Entwistle talks to author Simon Robinson about why it was needed and what it covers
Judicial renew – replacing heating and cooling at the Old Bailey
Fifty-year-old boilers at the Old Bailey are being replaced under the watchful eye of Lady Justice, in a major 10-year refurbishment. Andy Pearson speaks to the project team about the challenge of replacing heating and cooling without interrupting proceedings in 18 law courts
Jonathan Gaunt on public health engineering’s growing status
Jonathan Gaunt represents the growing number of public health engineers taking prime roles in CIBSE and the industry at large. The chair of the Society of Public Health Engineers tells Alex Smith about his vision for the sector and explains why he is keen for graduates to get experience on site
Paradise forged – Heating and cooling at Center Parcs Longford Forest resort
Center Parcs Longford Forest resort required renewable energy generation, ventilation that didn’t harm tropical plants and a new €4.5m, 27km gas main. Andy Pearson reports
Object lessons – workshop on creating product objects for BIM
Ahead of the launch of a new competency scheme for manufacturers creating product data, CIBSE and the Society of Digital Engineering hosted a workshop that shone a light on the issues around creating product objects for BIM. Alex Smith reports
Raising the bar – Graduate of the Year winner
Eight finalists addressed the topics of professional competence and upholding technical standards at the Young Engineers Awards last month. Liza Young listened to their speeches
Engineering façades at Zaha Hadid’s Morpheus hotel
The design of the jaw-dropping Morpheus Hotel in Macau has a 40-storey, free-form exoskeleton that would not have been possible without the skill of the façade engineers. Andy Pearson talks to BuroHappold Engineering about the 30 façade systems needed to realise the striking design