DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
An example of services incorporated into a roof landscape.
Plant spaces must be located in positions that ventilate into low-impact façade zones, and not prime corners of the elevation, and envelope penetrations must be designed with integrated solutions, not just stuck-on louvres at the last minute.
they prefer landscaped green roofs, PV panels, or roof terraces for residents. While they look great, they leave little or no space for mechanical plant. That pushes air source heat pumps downwards, often into basements or internal plant areas. However, air source heat pumps were never designed
for that. They’re ideal for installation in open air, with clean airflow and free discharge. When they’re squeezed into enclosed basements, it doesn’t just increase the need for forced ventilation but also risks compromising lifespan and performance. So, that puts everyone in a difficult position. The roof is
off limits, the basement is overcrowded and the façade is the only place left to breathe – and it’s starting to show. Consequently, the knock-on effect is often that while
the façade is supposed to be elegant, clean and high- performing, it ends up being riddled with mismatched louvres, awkward penetrations, or last-minute additions. All of this could have been avoided if M&E was integrated at the very beginning of the design process.
Climate change is turning up the heat This issue isn’t going away; in fact, it’s getting worse. Rising external temperatures are pushing more flats into overheating risk zones, and dynamic modelling requirements, such as Part O, are exposing overheating problems in ways that hadn’t previously been flagged at Stages Two or Three. Furthermore, glazing-heavy designs that are often favoured by planners for daylight and visual impact are amplifying solar gains, and clients are frequently pushing for more amenities, such as gyms, spas, lounges, and communal kitchens, increasing internal heat gains and requiring mechanical ventilation. The response is larger air handling units, more purge
ventilation and the installation of comfort cooling systems, all increasing cooling loads and air source heat pump capacity. It’s a feedback loop, so every time plant is upsized, the strain on the façade to accommodate it is increased.
The early incorporation of façade design is vital Façade planning needs to be moved upstream, with M&E being involved at RIBA Stage Two – not just as space planners but as performance drivers. This means using passive design strategies to reduce mechanical load before any kit is upsized. For instance, brise soleils and vertical fins should be incorporated to reduce solar gain on glazed elevations, while openable windows with acoustic ventilation panels to support natural or hybrid cooling must also be a consideration. Similarly, plant spaces must be located in positions that ventilate into low-impact façade zones, and not prime corners of the elevation, and envelope penetrations must be designed with integrated solutions, not just stuck-on louvres at the last minute. The days of treating M&E as a bolt-on are over; the plant is getting bigger, the cooling loads are increasing, and the façade is bearing the brunt. If services aren’t integrated into façade design
earlier, and planned intelligently for rising environmental demands, buildings and building owners will keep paying the price in lost performance, compromised aesthetics and late-stage redesigns. The solution is obvious – bring everyone to the table early and work cohesively together. Design the façade like every duct, vent, or grille matters – because it does.
Alexandra Davis
Alexandra Davis joined Whitecode as a graduate in 2006 having qualified as a Mechanical Engineer BEng with honours from Greenwich University. She was seconded to another Whitecode group company for several years and has recently returned to the mothership in 2023. She has vast
experience in complex commercial and residential projects, having worked on a variety of schemes from residential towers to data centres. She has an eye for detail and enjoys problem solving complex project issues and is one of the company’s most experienced engineers.
March 2026 Health Estate Journal 29
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