Max Fordham

Max Fordham is a partnership of engineers, designers, and consultants focused on the built environment, dedicated to delivering sustainable solutions. The company provides a range of services including building services engineering, design, and sustainability consultancy. Their work encompasses aspects that impact the internal environment and performance of buildings, such as mechanical and electrical engineering, daylighting, acoustics, and strategic sustainability consultancy.

While Max Fordham does not specify a dedicated portfolio for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), their expertise in low energy and low carbon building design positions them to contribute to the student housing sector. The firm champions sustainable practices, which are essential for creating comfortable and efficient living spaces for students. Their focus on maximising passive measures, such as natural ventilation and daylighting, aligns well with the needs of modern PBSA developments.

The company prioritises the minimisation of energy consumption in buildings, addressing both operational and embodied carbon. They assist clients in establishing sustainability goals through masterplans and feasibility studies, and support the decarbonisation of existing estates. This expertise can be beneficial for PBSA projects seeking to meet net zero carbon targets.

Max Fordham's approach includes facilitating material reuse and implementing circular economy strategies, which are increasingly important in construction. Their emphasis on whole life carbon assessments helps inform low embodied carbon design from the outset of projects. This commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of construction is relevant for all building types, including student accommodation.

The practice is driven by a team passionate about sustainable design, aiming to push the net zero carbon agenda forward. Their dedication to effective change in the buildings they design and the offices they operate reflects a broader commitment to environmental responsibility in the built environment.