Sam Warn: Project Architect

What is your role at Pick Everard?

My role as a Project Architect and Passivhaus Designer involves overseeing the design of buildings throughout all stages of the RIBA process ensuring they meet the client requirements. On specific projects I'm required to create a Passivhaus planning package (PHPP), which illustrates and tests the heat demand, ensuring the building can be developed for low-carbon performance targets, such as Passivhaus or EnerPHit accreditation.

How does Pick Everard support sustainability within architecture?

Pick Everard work on a variety of frameworks for low-carbon developments with some great clients. Our specialist multi-disciplinary design teams and sustainability champions ensure that clients understand the context of climate change and how to develop a responsible building proposal from the initial brief of the design. Allowing for correct performance criteria to be integrated as achievable targets throughout the RIBA design stages.

Why is sustainability so important?

The construction industry equates to almost 40% of UK carbon emissions, so it's important we develop methods to reduce this. This requires a new way of thinking about spatial design, space heating, carbon-sequestering or biogenic materials. Sustainability impacts us all at every level, so its important architectural proposals minimise waste whilst re-using what currently exists.

How is climate change set to change your job?

As the weather becomes more extreme, buildings will have to adapt to cope. My job is therefore constantly evolving to meet new performance targets, regulations and legislation coming into force.

As a Passivhaus designer I’m well equipped for dealing with change; designing buildings to be future proof, guaranteeing internal comfort even when the external environment fluctuates. The challenge is designing in flexibility whilst not exceeding the budget.

What is an exciting project you are working on at Pick Everard?

Projects that excite me are ones that take old unloved spaces and inject a new lease of life through creative re-use whether that’s extending, retrofitting, or adapting what’s already there. Currently, I’m working on the retrofit of an estate including labs and workplaces, some of which are looking to meet EnerPHit performance targets others aiming for LETI guidance.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get started in a career within Architecture?

Use architecture as an anchor profession to explore different interests such as science, sports, healthcare, climate. I’m currently working as part of Constructing Excellence South-West ‘Future Skills Group’, with the aim of raising awareness of the amazing opportunities within the construction industry. The more knowledge you can gain around different topics the more fascinating types of buildings you’ll design.