The Price of Going Tall: Hidden Challenges in Skyscraper Sustainability – Ep 72 with Peter Simmonds

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Peter Simmonds, a renowned mechanical engineer with a storied career in designing high-performance systems for some of the world’s tallest buildings. From his early days working on hospitals in the Netherlands to iconic projects like the Petronas Towers and Louis Vuitton Museum, Peter shares unparalleled insights into building physics, radiant heating and cooling, and the challenges of designing skyscrapers. The conversation dives deep into optimizing energy efficiency, minimizing carbon footprints, and the unique hurdles of passive design for mega-tall structures. Peter also discusses the critical role of collaboration in creating innovative buildings that balance functionality, comfort, and sustainability. Whether you're an engineer, architect, or building enthusiast, this episode is brimming with expertise and inspiration. Tune in to discover how great teams build extraordinary buildings! More About Peter Simmonds Peter Simmonds has been involved in designing and operating tall, supertall, and mega-tall buildings worldwide for more than 30 years. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 technical papers and articles. He is the author of the ASHRAE Design Guide for Tall, Supertall, and Mega Tall Building Systems (2015), second edition (2020), and co-author of the ASHRAE/REHVA Active and Passive Beam Application Design Guide (2014) and the ASHRAE Natural Ventilation Design Guide (2020). He has one Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and another in Research and Development from Reading Technical College in England; a master’s degree from Hogere Technische School, Den Bosch, The Netherlands; and a PhD.  Peter Simmonds is a Fellow Life Member of ASHRAE and has been awarded the following: 2006 - Fellow Award 2009 - Distinguished Service Award 2014 - Exceptional Service Award 2019 - Crosby Field Award 2020 - Regional Award of Merit 2021 - John F James International Award Peter is semi-retired and spends his time between projects mentoring students and teaching at TU Delft and The University of Applied Sciences in Munich. CONTACT: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-simmonds-a812b3154/ https://petersimmonds.com/director/ Where To Find Us: https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/ www.advancedglazings.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625 https://twitter.com/bbfhpod https://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/ https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltd https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd