Building Performance Consultancy (51-300 employees)
Awarded to the consultancy that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the delivery of buildings that have high levels of measured building performance and user satisfaction throughout their operating life.
Winner: Elementa Consulting
In a category that attracted broad and diverse entries, the judges singled out Elementa for its ‘excellent demonstration of collaboration’ and great examples of innovation and knowledge transfer’.
Elementa collaborates internally through open-office brainstorming sessions and presentations, and externally through workshops, BIM planning sessions, and technical discussions with non-technical people. The judges felt that, in particular, the consultancy’s Performance Hour soft landings workshop showed its ‘clear commitment to client betterment’.
The judges said Elementa demonstrated R&D in challenging areas, including post-occupancy evaluation, building performance, corporate social responsibility, and wellbeing. It also shared a commitment to reducing energy use and good engineering practice. Elementa demonstrated a breadth of industry skills and engagement, as well as dedication to taking practical action to respond to the Climate Emergency.
Among the innovative projects on which it has worked are the MEP designs for three major schemes that embraced changes to the GLA London Plan, which Elementa influenced:
- Appold Street switched from fossil fuel-fired CHP to ambient-loop ASHP
- Millharbour moved from a carbon-intensive district heat network to an ambient-loop ASHP
- Kodak switched from a major CHP to ASHP combined with a small CHP
Elementa has also done pioneering research into whole-life carbon, was the lead author on the BCO Guide Wellness Matters, and has developed workshop tools for clients and project teams to develop wellness strategies together.
The judges found that Elementa’s commitment to its staff ‘came across very strongly’ in its submission, and they praised its training scheme and opportunities for career development.
Shortlist
AESG
Harley Haddow
IES
RED