The discharge stacks for these fans can be quite high, so we may have to design roof supports for flues.. One unusual issue we encountered was a vibration requirement for an X-ray machine.
It is very important to balance these needs and think carefully about our HVAC management and controls.But most importantly, we need to design buildings which are resilient and adopt the principles of passive design.
Buildings that adopt adequate solar control measures, good thermal insulation, good daylight levels and openable windows via narrow plates have the capacity to reduce peak heating and cooling gains and the dependence on mechanical ventilation, where feasible..The growing importance of physical and mental wellbeing in architecture and design.Due to the side effects of COVID-19, physical and mental wellbeing are becoming a key priority for many building developers, designers and construction companies.. Buildings (residential and commercial) are places to live and work but increasingly also to play and move, with a strong focus on physical activity and active lifestyles.
Active buildings include changing facilities and bike storage to foster sustainable and healthier modes of transport, prioritise the use of stairs, and have flexible layouts and spaces to accommodate sports activities..Mental wellbeing can be promoted through healthy design by improving visual quality (daylight levels, views out and adoption of circadian lighting), thermal comfort (improved envelope performance and equipment efficiency, allowing natural ventilation and enabling adaptive comfort via flexible dress codes) and acoustic quality (reducing noise intrusion, and reverberation times, provision of quiet areas, etc.)..
Additionally, a biophilic design with a strong connection to nature has multiple healing and psychological benefits to building occupants..
Holistic approach to design for wellbeing.Marks feels one beneficial change would come from the construction industry committing more broadly to seeking guidance from manufacturing professionals.
Currently, that isn’t often happening.However, if we want to shift to more of a manufacturing mindset, she believes it’s essential that we “get the right people in the room.”.
“The majority of the consultants that are working with our customers and myself on the industrialised construction offering are manufacturing consultants,” she says.“You have to think of things like systems architecture, and you have to understand things like flow.