services
wind microclimate
Addressing wind microclimate is fundamentally about managing risks and exploiting opportunities to enhance the design, support the planning process & reduce costs.
In recent years, computational advances have made CFD a practical partner or sometimes an alternative to wind tunnels for some applications within ‘Architectural Aerodynamics’, especially very early in design.
But to advise robustly, with a full view of the risks, the right approach for each situation requires a great deal of wind tunnel experience of modelling different buildings, optimising design change and mitigation strategies. Getting this right greatly supports the design & planning process. Getting this wrong amplifies risk and can bring the planning process to a standstill. With a command of the discipline the complete range of tools including experience-based assessments, CFD and wind tunnel capabilities, we will choose the right solution for your design.
We have successfully supported designers optimise for wind microclimate at hundreds of sites, including:
- Manhattan Loft Gardens, London
- The Mercian, Birmingham
- JTI Headquarters, Geneva
- Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Zurich HQ, Chicago
- The Hub, San Francisco
wind loading
Wind loading of structural systems and cladding elements is a prerequisite for most structures. With the trend to build larger, more flexible and more architecturally complex arrangements, there is an increased susceptibility to wind and a greater need to consult experienced wind engineers.
We have led and supported wind engineering assessments to derive design parameters, employing sophisticated methods for many such structures, including:
- National Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City
runway impact
When planning for the introduction of significant new buildings within the vicinity of airports and airfields it is important to ensure that the interaction of wind with the new buildings, and the levels of turbulence introduced, are within acceptable limits for operation.
We have conducted such studies for several sites within the UK, including:
- London Heathrow Airport
- London Gatwick Airport
- Birmingham International Airport
- Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire
monitoring & anemometer installation
Wind speed monitoring through carefully sited anemometers can often be useful to validate the true performance of wind conditions around a building, to monitor wind conditions as they relate to the movement of buildings in response to wind or to control access to certain areas during stronger wind events.
We have experience in both installation and monitoring, and have employed these techniques for buildings including:
- Manhattan Loft Gardens
- 20 Fenchurch Street
peer review, expert advisor and expert witness
Often with continuing advances in modern methods, technology reaching the fingertips of an increasingly wide pool of practitioners leads to an expanding supply of services, and in some cases, a gap in quality. As a result, the importance of the reviewer is amplified, and it is increasingly critical that roles are filled by consultants with the requisite experience to spot the bad from the good, and to prevent the bad from slipping through the net.
At ArcAero we are experienced in these roles, with Robin in particular having taken a further step to act as an Expert Witness to a planning inquiry for the former Westferry Printworks site on the Isle of Dogs. Robin has also acted as Expert Advisor to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, as have Robin and Alex for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
