Xinlong Wang, has been named in this year's Building 40 Under 40, a highly coveted list, spotlighting people under the age of 40 who seem set to change the future of construction, for his achievements in sustainable design. As a Principle Environmental Consultant at chapmanbdsp, he focuses on closing the gap between how buildings are designed and how they actually perform. By pushing the industry to go beyond compliance and adopt performance-led approaches, Xinlong explains the part he plays in ensuring buildings deliver real environmental results in practice.

Performance-driven design has become increasingly crucial for achieving robust modelling and meeting sustainability targets. One of the greatest challenges I've faced in my career was gaining a full understanding of the UK construction process during the early stage of my career, having completed my undergraduate studies in building services engineering in China, going on to do a master's in environmental design at the University of Bath.

Having this international background in my first few roles, it took time to familiarise myself with the local regulatory frameworks, procurement routes, and industry culture, as well as identifying where sustainability comes into play. I had to proactively seek opportunities to collaborate closely with different disciplines, which ultimately gave me a much broader perspective, allowing me to position sustainability as a core driver of value throughout the project lifecycle.

Buildings are still frequently underperforming in this area for a number of reasons in the UK, among them fragmented communication between the project stages of a building's programme, an emphasis on value engineering, a lack of accountability post-construction, which altogether undermines long-term environmental goals and the credibility of performance-based design. It's a challenge that demands significant changes in how we approach building design and delivery.

In the UK, there's traditionally been more of a design-for-compliance culture, where meeting legislative standards has often been the primary objective. Currently, modelling typically concludes around the end of RIBA Stage 4, where the design stage ends. After that, changes to

specifications made by on-site contractors to, for example, plant equipment, may significantly impact performance.

Working more closely with contractors through the construction phase would be beneficial to ensure their modifications remain aligned with what has been allowed for in the design stage model. Minimising this communication shortfall and increasing collaboration will therefore help to close the performance gap between designed and actual building operation.

Beyond the construction phase, working more closely with occupiers is also important. This is particularly relevant giving the increasing prevalence of the NABERS rating system in the UK. Unlike broader sustainability frameworks, NABERS deals solely with energy in use. The strength of this narrower yet rigorous approach also lies in its reliance on verified metered data, not predictions so anything higher than modelled will quickly be exposed.

Comprising experienced engineers, NABERS' independent Design for Performance review panel scrutinises the modelling, reporting and design assumptions in detail. This external check is invaluable, both in raising standards and in providing project teams with targeted feedback. It ensures that performance-driven design is not simply aspirational but evidence-based, continuously refined, and ultimately verifiable in operation.

Another advantage is its emphasis on a building's continued performance in terms of energy efficiency, not just at the point of practical completion and handover to the client. By working closely with such client-based stakeholders, environmental designers can understand what tenants are planning in terms of fit-outs and operational requirements. This tenant engagement represents a really important factor to consider in ensuring buildings perform as intended.

NABERS essentially holds a mirror up to real-world building performance. This creates accountability: if energy use is higher than modelled, it will be exposed. Data sits at the heart of this philosophy and for engineers, this data-driven approach is transformative. It bridges the gap between design and facilities management, and it links those in charge with creating the models directly with building operators. This interaction improves the accuracy of assumptions in future projects, and enhances collaboration with landlords and occupiers alike.

In my own career, my time with chapmanbdsp has given me the opportunity to work on several high-profile NABERS Design For Performance (DfP) projects in close collaboration with our in-house MEP engineers. A standout achievement was successfully securing a design-reviewed DfP target rating of 4.5 Stars for a major office refurbishment project in Mayfair. This milestone showcased the strength of our integrated MEP and sustainability strategies, as well as our modelling expertise.

I'm currently working on several other projects targeting even higher ratings of 5 and 5.5 Stars. This reflects the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency and operational performance in the built environment.

Moving forward, the industry needs to embrace a more integrated approach, maintaining involvement and communication across all project stages and into building operation, rather than treating design, construction, and occupation as separate, disconnected phases.

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About chapmanbdsp:

About chapmanbdsp: chapmanbdsp use the power of design and engineering to deliver excellence for clients through its building services and environmental consultancy. With an agile and assured approach combines creative design with intelligent engineering, chapmanbdsp leads small to large scale projects across a range of sectors.

chapmanbdsp comprises architects, engineers, analysts and designers to help clients realise smarter and more efficient solutions. The businesses core specialisms - mechanical, electrical, public heath, environmental, lighting, vertical transport and fire - work seamlessly throughout the building structure to create places that fulfil their potential.

For more information please contact:

Zoe Whitford-Bartle zoe@informare.co.uk

07902093924