Industry insight

When it comes to designing buildings, what elements must be considered? Is there a particular area of focus? In an age of rapid climate change, environmental considerations are becoming increasingly important. However, what does that look like in practice? How important is the collation of information and the potential for change?

To find out more, we spoke to Mark Lowe, Civil Engineering Manager at Primary Power:

“When it comes to designing buildings, the first challenge is collating the necessary information. Often, this information can be hard to decipher, so you must factor in the time it takes to analyse it properly. From that point, it is important to make the information as stable and reliable as possible.

“The process also involves a great deal of potential change. You need to account for this during the design process and build flexibility into your plans. By doing so, when changes arise, you won’t need to start the design process again. Having strong, adaptable foundations in place will better support your project from beginning to end.”

Mark also debunks what people might traditionally expect from building design:

“When it comes to building design, we design from the top down, which is often the opposite of what people assume and how a building is physically constructed. In many cases, the last thing you design is often the first thing that is built, the foundations. You need to approach a building as an unknown entity, which requires a holistic design approach from the outset.

“At the first stage of the design process, we focus on the top of the building. We also explore other factors, including:

• The location and potential exposure
• The environmental loadings, surrounding topography and how these factors could influence the wind
• What potential form the building will take

All of this must be considered and calculated from the outset.”

Every successful process is underpinned by a series of key stages, as Mark explains:

“To determine the optimum foundation solution, you must first consider everything above it. This doesn’t always lead to a clean-cut decision;

sometimes you need to explore ways optimising the structure to remove unnecessary weight to reduce load. Ground conditions and geological strata will also influence foundation design, governing how much load can be supported and at what depth often dictating whether ground bearing or piled foundation are the right choice.

“External factors such as extreme wind or snow can also increase loading requirements. You must consider the material used for the supporting structure and the amount of load they can safely support, whether that is timber, steel or concrete.

“It is important to consider the wind flow around the building that you’re designing. As wind flows around a structure, it creates areas of both positive and negative pressure. This results in a push-pull effect on the building envelope.

“On roofs, wind passing over the surface can generate negative pressure (suction), producing uplift forces that act upward rather than pushing downward onto the structure.

“This has implications when selecting roofing materials and designing the structural stability system and should be factored into the design process from the outset. All these factors must be considered and should underpin every element of the design process.”

In recent years, we have seen more extreme weather events, particularly heatwaves driven by climate change. Naturally this is influencing how buildings will be designed in the future, as Mark explores:

“Historically, buildings in the UK have been designed to withstand the colder winters we used to experience. However, recent weather patterns have shown that conditions are changing. Many of the materials we have traditionally relied upon do not adapt particularly well to higher temperatures, so we must begin exploring alternatives and consider a structural shift in building design.

“There is often more to consider than many people initially realise. For example, dense concrete blocks finished in lighter colours can be an effective option due to their high thermal mass. They absorb heat during the day and release it as temperatures fall, helping to create a more consistent internal temperature.

“As temperatures rise, there may also be increased demand for air conditioning and ventilation solutions, making thermal comfort an increasingly important consideration within the building design process.

There are many factors involved in designing buildings, as Mark reiterates in his key learnings:

“Design from the top down. Always allow for potential changes or amendments within your design; this will benefit you in the long term.

“Design for sustainability from the start. Given the inherent impact of construction on the environment, particularly the use of carbon dense materials such as concrete, considering sustainability at the earliest design stage often has the greatest long-term effect on a building’s overall environmental impact.

“Creative thinking plays a key role in design. It gives you the opportunity to refine structures, adjust and explore new ideas. Be bold, think beyond conventional solutions and embrace innovation; it is a truly exciting industry to work in.”

Thanks for sharing your fascinating insights, Mark. To find out more about Primary Power’s work in action, visit our services page here.