Tag: indoor air quality

Expert Q&A: IAQ and the limits of prescriptive ventilation

Figure 1: Developed in partnership with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education, the new Julius E. Sprauve PreK-12 campus is one of 20 educational facilities delivered across the territory. Courtesy: DLR Group

Educational Facilities

Design K-12 school buildings for adaptability and energy efficiency

Brewster Academy. Courtesy: Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates Inc.

Design K-12 schools with net zero energy in mind

North Quincy High School. Courtesy: Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates Inc.

HVAC/R and Mechanical

How to design K-12 school building HVAC systems

Accommodating up to 550 PreK-12 students, the Julius E. Sprauve campus on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, combines a light building footprint, resiliency and innovative building systems to create a flexible and forward-thinking learning environment for students, faculty and the St. John community. Courtesy: DLR Group

Automation, Controls

Designing K-12 school buildings with smart automation in mind

Orange County Sanitation District roof photovoltaic panels. Courtesy: HDR

HVAC/R and Mechanical

Designing office buildings with energy use top of mind

Financial firm in New York City by architect TPG Architecture. Courtesy: MG Engineering

Office Buildings

Design office buildings with decarbonization and modularity in mind

Figure 1: An example of a coordinated floor plan showcasing the lighting fixtures, line and low-voltage lighting controls alongside a sequence of operations table breaking down how these spaces are controlled. Courtesy: WSP USA Buildings Inc.

Lighting and Lighting Controls

Consulting-Specifying Engineer top articles: July 2025

Figure 2: Indoor unit return ductwork with outside air connection via ducted louver. Courtesy: CDM Smith

Optimizing ventilation, pressurization and air quality with ASHRAE 62.1

Figure 5: Laminar flow diffusers over a surgical table in an operating room. Courtesy: WSP

How ventilation and indoor air quality protect against infection