The 2026 CIBSE Technical Symposium took place on 26–27 March at Loughborough University, centred around the theme ‘Fit for 2050 – Redesigning Spaces for Wellbeing, Inclusivity, and Sustainable Performance.’ 

Bringing together industry experts, policy makers and academic researchers, the Symposium provided a platform to explore how building services design must evolve in response to climate change, changing occupancy patterns and the growing focus on wellbeing and performance. Hilson Moran was proud to be represented by three members of the team, contributing research and expertise across multiple sessions. 

Presenters are selected by the CIBSE Technical Symposium Steering Committee following peer review of submitted abstracts, covering the impact of new technologies, processes and performance methodologies on the built environment. Summaries of Hilson Moran’s accepted contributions are outlined below, with full papers available via the CIBSE website.

Environmental Consultants Eve Brooks-Parkin and Vanessa Nguyen- From Compliance to Performance: Embedding Indoor Air Quality in Sustainable Workplaces for Occupant Wellbeing within a B Corp Framework 

Eve Brooks-Parkin and Vanessa Nguyen presented a paper examining the evolving role of indoor air quality (IAQ) as buildings become increasingly energy efficient and workplace occupancy patterns continue to change. 

Positioning IAQ as a performance driven indicator of health and wellbeing, the paper explored how IAQ can be embedded into both building design and operation to support long term occupant outcomes and broader sustainability goals. 

The research drew on Hilson Moran’s Manchester and London offices as live case studies, assessing how IAQ is integrated through ventilation strategies, lowVOC material selection and continuous monitoring. A comparative analysis of pre and postrefurbishment spaces demonstrated measurable reductions in key pollutants, including CO₂ and PM2.5, supported by qualitative feedback from building occupants. 

The paper also reflected on the role of B Corp certification in embedding IAQ within wider social and environmental commitments, reinforcing its place within future building performance standards. The session prompted discussion around the importance of moving beyond design intent to measurable, lived performance and the need for IAQ to be clearly communicated to both industry and occupants alike. 

Download the full paper 

Technical Director Ben Abel: When Models Meet Reality: Understanding Thermal Performance in Buildings and Beyond 

Technical Director Ben Abel chaired the session “When Models Meet Reality: Understanding Thermal Performance in Buildings and Beyond,” alongside presenting research into domestic overheating. 

The session brought together a wide-ranging discussion on how buildings perform in practice, covering indoor air quality, low-carbon heating for a net zero future, climate resilience and adaptation, post-occupancy data and optimisation, and emerging applications of artificial intelligence in building services. 

Technical Director Ben Abel: Domestic Overheating 

Ben also presented findings from domestic overheating research carried out in collaboration with Loughborough University, EDSL TAS, Inkling, Porritt Associates and Ballymore, and funded by the Tyréns Trust. The research examined discrepancies between predicted and real-world thermal performance in homes, highlighting the implications for occupant comfort, health and building regulations as temperatures continue to rise. 

Together, the session reinforced the importance of aligning modelling, data and occupant experience to ensure buildings perform as intended in increasingly complex environmental conditions.

Reflections from the Symposium 

A key takeaway from the 2026 Symposium was how interconnected building performance truly is. Energy use, air quality, health, comfort and resilience do not operate in isolation, and the success of building design ultimately depends on how well spaces work for the people who live and work within them. 

The event also highlighted the value of open discussion – sharing perspectives, challenging assumptions and recognising the continuing need for collaboration, research and clear communication as the industry works towards a healthier, more resilient built environment.