In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability within the built environment, operational energy plays a pivotal role. At Wallace Whittle, we take pride in our ability to provide comprehensive assessments and calculations to predict energy consumption. Our expertise empowers clients to make informed decisions, minimise energy consumption, reduce energy costs, and contribute to a greener future.

Understanding and predicting energy consumption is at the core of our approach. Our team employs sophisticated assessments and calculations to evaluate key energy end-uses, including heating, cooling, lighting, and other energy sources. By leveraging our multi-disciplinary backgrounds and sector-specific knowledge, we ensure a thorough analysis that sets the stage for a net-zero carbon design.

One of the distinguishing features of Wallace Whittle’s approach is our commitment to holistic design, we recognise that the success of any sustainable design hinges on two crucial components: the system/project design and the behaviour of the building occupants.

Our team collaborates closely with architects, MEP engineers, and our clients to integrate the system design seamlessly. Simultaneously, we engage in a conversation with clients to understand the details of building usage and occupant behaviour.

Our approach enables us to showcase the impact of proposed designs from the beginning. We empower our clients to make environmentally conscious decisions through education, by providing them with a clear understanding of operating costs, utilities expenditure, and potential areas for improvement. We find that transparency fosters a collaborative environment where clients can actively participate in the journey towards sustainable and energy efficient buildings.

We actively engage with clients to gain insights into occupant behaviour, ensuring that our assessments are grounded in real-world scenarios. By basing our calculations on factors such as daily usage patterns, we create designs that align seamlessly with the needs and behaviours of the end users.

With our operational energy expertise, we aim to help clients beyond reducing their energy costs but also to decrease their overall carbon footprint. Through meticulous assessments, we identify opportunities to enhance energy efficiency, minimise waste and optimise overall performance. This proactive approach positions our clients to not only meet but exceed their sustainability goals.

Operational energy considerations are more critical now than ever. At Wallace Whittle, we take pride in our ability to merge cutting-edge assessments, holistic design principles, and client collaboration to create buildings that not only meet but exceed sustainability benchmarks. By prioritising both system design and occupant behaviour, we pave the way for a greener, more efficient future—one sustainable design at a time.

We’d love to bring our expertise to your next project, get in touch with our Sustainability team today by emailing [email protected] or head to our LinkedIn to find out more about what we do.

Wallace Whittle is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Dunn as a Director. Formerly a Partner at Troup Bywaters + Anders, Steven brings a wealth of experience and market knowledge to our existing team of Directors in Scotland.

In his previous role, Steven played a crucial role in delivering projects across various sectors, from commercial office refurbishments to developments in retail, hotels, data centers, and education, which fits seamlessly in with key sectors covered by Wallace Whittle in Scotland. At WW, Steven will join the existing team of Directors in our Scottish region consisting of Glasgow Director, Barry McKeane, Edinburgh Director, Stephen Osborne and Aberdeen Director, Andy Forbes. His focus will be developing the Central Belt in line with our strategic plans and commitment to assembling a team of industry leaders, to drive innovation and success in the region.

“2024 sees us entering our fourth year of business since our MBO and we move forward with a clear plan to take our company to the next level, being market-leading in everything we do. Enhancing our management team across the UK and Ireland is key to this plan, so with Steven working hand in hand with existing Directors and office teams, we’re able to strongly deliver on these objectives.”

“Having the opportunity to join such a well-known brand as Wallace Whittle, that has evolved significantly since their MBO was a fantastic opportunity I could not pass up. Their plans for further growth and their unwavering drive for quality of product and service just struck a chord that I know will in turn, be key to my own network and beyond.”

With Steven’s appointment in Scotland, Wallace Whittle is poised to drive further expansion in our England offices, intensifying our presence in the region. This strategic initiative involves establishing new offices throughout England and expanding existing locations in Warrington and London. Wallace Whittle is committed to enhancing our footprint and impact across the UK and Ireland market. We have a strong track record of supporting and developing new offices from zero to £1-2m in just a couple of years -if you are looking for a new challenge, like Steven, get in touch in confidence with our Managing Director, Allan McGill – [email protected]

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

The heating solution for the Monklands Replacement Hospital project, of which we are providing M&E design and Sustainability consultancy, is using air source heat pumps (ASHP) located on the roof of the energy centre for the development.

To get a little technical, the ASHP are generating circa 16MW of heat, which we understand to be the largest array of units currently being designed in the UK. With the discharge air from the ASHP being around 7°C below the ambient temperature, we had concerns with regard to the micro-climate that would be generated around the ASHP and the possibility of re-circulation across the heat pumps which reduces the efficiency of the installation.

We commissioned a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study, working in collaboration with JG Consulting, to test design to achieve the optimum layout based on varying ambient temperatures, wind speeds from various directions as well as taking account of the impact of the adjacent buildings.

The study is ongoing but the initial findings are being honed to create the optimum configuration.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your next Healthcare project – [email protected]

Commissioning is an important part of completing any project but in a critical environment such as a data centre it is even more important that each item is first commissioned and then tested in conjunction with all other systems to prove the interaction in a number of failure modes. This is known as Integrated System Testing (IST). It’s a complex process of predictive response and recording that ensures reliability when it matters most.

DataVita’s new DV2 facility saw Vertiv’s first deployment of Lithium-Ion batteries in Scotland. A lot of consideration went into the specification of both the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and the battery as energy efficiency, space efficiency and safety were paramount. The UPS can operate at 97% efficiency on double conversion or 99% on dynamic online mode. Coupled with the energy efficiency of the battery arrangement, this will significantly reduce the operating efficiently and drive down the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).

Addressing concerns surrounding the fire risk associated with Lithium-Ion batteries, the specification called for additional safety measures. A robust battery management system prevents overcharging, deep discharge, and overheating to protect the batteries. Complemented by advanced fire detection and suppression mechanisms, these measures ensure not only the reliability of the facility but also the safety of personnel.

As part of commissioning, we load bank tested the Vertiv UPS – a task that presented unique challenges, especially considering the facility’s basement location.

The successful commissioning of the UPS allowed the facility to then move into full IST.

As the data centre landscape evolves, DataVita’s commitment to cutting-edge technology and safety measures sets a new standard for the industry. At Wallace Whittle, we’re experienced and ready to deliver robust data centre design.

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

WWe spend more than 90% of our time indoors and we know that the quality of our environment impacts our health and how we feel. In turn, our health and wellbeing impact our productivity, so we understand how important it is to create a quality space to live and work.

At Wallace Whittle we adopt and adapt technology to provide the finest environmental engineering solutions and user experience. We are focused on people; our clients, their staff and those who occupy and use the buildings we help to design.

Office spaces have been at the forefront of hybrid working conversations, with employees expecting and deserving a space to thrive. We have wide-ranging experience across fit-outs, whether that be Cat A, Cat B or refurbishment. For many projects, carbon accounting is high on the agenda so sympathetic refurbishment or retrofitting can give tired spaces a new lease of life.

One of our most recent projects, Barclays Glasgow Campus, scooped up two awards at the British Council Office Awards – Corporate Workplace, and going on to win Best of the Best! That’s on top of the regional BCO awards for Corporate Workplace, Innovation and ESG.

Recent fit-out projects include:

• Royal London, 80 Fenchurch Street

• Barclays Glasgow Campus

• Burges Salmon, Edinburgh Office Extension

• Rathbones, Edinburgh

• Virgin Money, Glasgow

• OVO @ Cadworks Glasgow

And of course, our very own WW office upgrades in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your next project or to learn more about our fit-out expertise – [email protected]

Since our management buyout in April 2021, we’ve been very well received and welcomed back by the market, design teams and clients. This reception has empowered us to drive the business post-MBO, as we relentlessly pursue the highest standards of product and service quality. We are also driving standardisation throughout the organisation, a crucial need within our industry and a demand echoed by the market as a whole. We have moved from 88th to 73rd place, with a 54% increase in fee income.

Our Managing Director, Allan McGill, said “Over the past two and a half years, we have not only expanded our order books but have also upgraded three out of our six offices to premium facilities. We successfully launched the initial phases of our Training Academy at all levels, introduced our staff Benefits portal, and much more. These achievements have positioned us for continued growth across various regions, while we simultaneously focus on internal development to elevate our levels of quality and standardisation.”

Read the full article and see the list at Building.co.uk 

In a world where environmental sustainability is at the forefront of our concerns, jmarchitects and Wallace Whittle took a step towards a greener future by co-hosting a Net Zero Carbon (NZC) event, aiming to bring a 360° perspective to the discussion. Held in the Storytelling Centre on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, this event brought together experts, thought leaders, and professionals from various fields to examine the pivotal issue of achieving net zero carbon emissions. 

Our chair, Robin Blacklock, Managing Director at Dowbrae, led a fruitful discussion and pushed our panel with thought-provoking questions, steering the conversation to the challenges and opportunities tied to the Net Zero Carbon journey through lessons learned and current practice.

The panel of speakers included: 

• David Spiteri, Director & Head of Sustainability at Wallace Whittle 

• Steven Anderson, Associate Director, Scottish Futures Trust 

• Daniel Lockwood, Regional Sustainability Lead, AtkinsRéalis 

• Magdalena Blazusiak, Senior Architectural Technologist, jmarchitects 

• Adelle Jess, Senior Architect, jmarchitects 

These experts, each bringing their unique perspectives, shared their insights on what it takes to create truly net zero carbon buildings and we thank them again for their valuable time.  

Achieving net zero carbon emissions in the built environment has become a race against time, demanding a swift response from the construction sector. In light of this challenge, our Head of Sustainability, David Spiteri’s presentation highlighted crucial components of NZC design. It explored design trends and focused on understanding the definition of NZC in buildings. David outlined necessary approaches to achieve this, highlighting key design implications crucial for meeting these targets, sharing valuable lessons learned from past initiatives. 

A truly net zero carbon building must not only reduce its carbon emissions but also be efficient in its energy use. This efficiency is not only an environmental goal but also an economic one, as energy-efficient buildings can significantly lower operating costs over their lifetime. 

Functionality, too, is key. A building must serve its intended purpose effectively while also reducing its carbon footprint. This can include designing spaces that allow for natural lighting and ventilation, implementing energy-efficient HVAC systems, and using sustainable building materials. 

Location plays a vital role as well. A building should be in a location that minimizes its impact on the environment, with access to public transportation and amenities that reduce the need for long commutes and energy consumption. 

The discussions underscored the importance of collaboration and engagement at all levels to create sustainable places. Achieving net zero carbon emissions is a collective effort, requiring cooperation between architects, engineers, developers, policymakers, and the community. 

By working together, we can create sustainable places that not only reduce carbon emissions but also support our communities. Sustainable buildings have the potential to create new opportunities, improve the quality of life for residents, and positively affect the environment directly or indirectly. 

The breakfast seminar was a comprehensive exploration of the concept of achieving net zero carbon emissions. It showcased the commitment of jmarchitects and Wallace Whittle to making a positive impact on our environment. The event highlighted that the road to a sustainable future may be challenging, but with collaboration and innovative solutions, we can make a real difference. 

Get in touch with us today to discuss your next project or to learn more about our education expertise – [email protected]

Our experience in the Education sector is wide-ranging and long-standing. Working with local Hubs and councils, we have the experience to provide our current and future student generations with the best environments to increase comfort and support new methods of teaching, learning and research. We design to enhance wellness and minimise environmental impact as the world works towards Net Zero Carbon.

In fact, many of our education projects have gone on to be shortlisted and win awards, from Scottish Design Awards to Learning Places Scotland Awards!

WWe have worked on various schools including SEN schools across the UK and Ireland. Including:

• Charlton Park Academy, Greenwhich

• Adrossan Community Campus, Ayr

• Big Creative Academy, Walthamstow

• Harris Academy, Dundee

• Inverurie Community Campus, Aberdeen (SEN)

• Maybole Community Campus, Ayr

And more…

• 3G pitches, multi-use games areas and external play areas

•  Six-lane swimming pools, hydrotherapy pools, warm water pools and sports halls

• Community cafes

• Top-tier energy efficient SFT model targets for core facilities

Get in touch with us today to discuss your next project or to learn more about our education expertise – [email protected]