NowtHaus - comfort by design, not kit
William Allen, Ramboll, Associate Building Performance Consultant

Too many buildings prioritize mechanical systems over people, inflating complexity, cost, and carbon. HVAC alone can exceed 15% of budgets and the façades cost, while being hard to maintain and energy- and carbon-intensive. This study explores how far passive design can go, reframing comfort around temperature, air movement, and adaptive comfort instead of rare extremes.  

From Constraint to Innovation: Delivering Passivhaus Student Residential at Scale - Fallowfield, University of Manchester
Vicky Ackerley, The University of Manchester, Director of Residences and Sport, Neil McFarlane, GRAHAM Investment Projects, Strategic Development Director

The University's Fallowfield Campus redevelopment is among the world's largest Passivhaus developments, delivering 3,300 student beds within a sustainability-led scheme. This presentation brings together the University  and Graham Construction to offer a frank, practical account of the Passivhaus journey at Fallowfield – from setting ambitious performance targets and understanding their impact on design, through to the real construction challenges of delivering airtight, high-performance buildings at scale. Delegates will gain insight into what Passivhaus demands of clients, designers and contractors alike, and why the outcomes are worth the effort.