Too hard to breathe – Ventilation, Control, and Resilient Building Design

Good ventilation is essential for healthy, comfortable, and resilient buildings—but as mechanical systems become more dominant, it's critical to ask: are we designing for long-term wellbeing, or creating new dependencies?

This event explores why ventilation matters—not just for compliance or technical performance, but for occupant health, comfort, and the psychological benefits of environmental control. As buildings increasingly rely on mechanical systems, understanding building physics, material choices, and passive design strategies becomes more important than ever.

Through case studies and discussion, we’ll demonstrate how to design for indoor air quality while considering flexibility as well as ethics. We’ll look at how passive and natural ventilation, and low-impact construction materials can support both regulatory standards and 'passive survivability'—the ability for buildings to remain safe and comfortable during power outages or emergencies.

The session will highlight practical examples from engineering and architectural practice, with a focus on avoiding 'eco-bling' and prioritising real, long-term benefits for occupants. Participants are invited to bring project-specific questions for open discussion.

Our speakers:

Janice Foster, Chartered Engineer and researcher specialising in building performance evaluation (BPE) at MEARU, GSA.

Richard Atkins, Chartered Architect who has designed sustainable buildings and advised clients, government and stakeholders for over 40 years.

Sandy Halliday, Chartered Engineer, who has worked in building research, training, policy guidance and as project advisor for local and national government and private clients for over 30 years.

Sam Foster, Net Zero Leader at NatureScot, Architect with strong interest in beautiful, low energy architecture constructed from non-toxic materials to create healthy environments.

Jessica Noel-Smith, Chartered Architect, Founder of Beyond Access, PhD Researcher at University of Stirling and Associate at Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC).

Discussion will be facilitated by Magdalena Blazusiak, who is the current Vice-chair of SEDA, Chartered Architectural Technologist, lecturer and PhD researcher at RGU, with interest in human centric retrofit supporting health and wellbeing.

WHERE: Reid Building, Glasgow Schol of Art, Principal Seminar Room 1 – Ground floor and online

WHEN: 18th September at 5.30pm for 6pm start (6pm-8pm)

Please let us know your access and dietary requirements. Donation box will be provided for the food and drink.

There will also be a Q&A, a Discussion and an opportunity to Network at the event.

The event will be hosted in a hybrid format. If attended in person, please ensure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start. The Zoom call will close after Q&A and discussion.

How to get there:

Glasgow School of Art, Reid Building

167 Renfrew Street

Glasgow, G3 6RQ

Public transport: The GSA is about a 20-minute walk from Buchanan Bus Station and Queens Street and Central train stations. The nearest local railway station is Charing Cross and the nearest subway station is Cowcaddens.

Car Parking: There is metered on-street parking locally and the nearest public car parks are located at Cambridge Street and Concert Square. Note that the GSA is within Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone.

Parking can be paid for via RinGo App.