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WSP's energy efficient Malmo office

WSP's research into the energy efficiency of glazed office buildings has ultimately been used by our own business to shape the design of our new office in Malmo.

Our team in Sweden has previously carried out research with Lund University and Skanska into the efficiency of glazed buildings, enhancing knowledge about the construction of predominantly glass façade buildings.

Criteria for own building

We have applied our research findings to the design of our own building in Malmo where the percentage of glass used for the façade is 48% compared to a more traditional design that equates to 23%. Our priorities were to: 

• utilise the increased availability of daylight in an efficient way, lowering the use of electricity for lighting and improving visual comfort
• guarantee good thermal comfort
• achieve a reasonable energy use at least the same as a traditional modern Swedish office building

Findings and specification for our building

Various simulations were carried out and the aims for our building could be achieved if:

• The glazing area did not exceed 53% of the façade area
• The total solar transmittance of the glazing combined with solar shading must be lower than 0.1
• The U-value of the windows must be lower than 1.1 W/m2K
• The use of a ventilation system with heat recovery as in traditional modern Swedish office buildings

A double skin façade was chosen for our 5 storey building in Malmo and movable solar shading devices were selected to optimise the solar shading and redirect daylight.

The double skin façade for our building is a multi-storey façade, where the cavity is naturally ventilated with outdoor air through an opening at the top and bottom. During winter the opening at the top is closed by a damper. The double skin façade also protects the movable solar shading, which for our building in Malmo is important as the building is subject to strong winds, snow and rain.

Our office in Malmo has proved to be very airtight. Energy use for heating due to air leakage is only 20 % of the total energy use for heating, and the airtightness is measured at 0.9 m3/hm2 at 75 Pa, compared to an average of 26 m3/hm2 for buildings in North America and 23 m3/hm2 for UK office buildings.

For further information contact: ake.blomsterberg@wspgroup.se