President, Clare Hall

Professor of Architecture (1977), Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge

Alan Short’s research group develops passive and hybrid low-energy design strategies for non-domestic buildings in different climates, new-build and rebuild, projecting their future performance against current climate change predictions. As such, the focus is on cooling.

Recent projects include the Arts and Humanities Research Council major project (£350K) DeDEPA 2004-08; National Institute of Health Research funded (£285K) Design Strategy for the Low-energy Ventilation and Cooling of Health Buildings (2005-08), NHS funded (£180K) Low Energy Public Sector Comparator 2008-present (NIHR funded from late 2009); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council major project in the Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Call (£1.15 million) Design and Delivery of Robust Hospital Environments in a Changing Climate 2009-2012. Short et al authored the Arts Council of England/UK Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment guidance for Capital Arts Projects ‘Building Excellence for the Arts’ 2009.

Short and his research collaborators also design and build innovative low energy buildings through Short and Associates Architects. The practice invents innovative, low energy building design strategies for education, research, industry and commerce across the world’s populated climate regions. It is heavily engaged in cutting edge research with the BP Institute, Cambridge University; The Martin Centre, Dept. of Architecture University of Cambridge; Loughborough University Dept of Civil Engineering; The Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, Leicester; University of Cardiff and many other specialists in fire and smoke simulation and acoustic design.

For further information on the Robust Hospital Environments in a Changing Climate project of which Professor Short is the Principal Investigator, see here.