Commissioning is the only formal process and profession engaged to focus on building performance throughout the design, construction and delivery phases of a typical project. To that end, the commissioning process and profession is uniquely positioned to advance decarbonization and building performance efforts, as we collectively grapple with the impact that our built environment’s carbon footprint is having on our climate.

From charretting and formally setting Owner’s Performance Goals at the earliest stages of a project, to reviewing and validating goals throughout design and construction milestones, to functionally testing and ultimately verifying and optimizing building performance, commissioning is a critical quality process to ensure that these goals have been achieved. This presentation will focus on how one of the world’s largest Architecture and Engineering design firms has embraced the Commissioning process to formalize climate action strategies and evolve to a performance-based project delivery model.

Ruairi Barnwell is a Principal at DLR Group, a global integrated design firm, where he leads the Smart Buildings Practice, with a strong focus on digitizing, decarbonizing and designing a smarter, healthier more sustainable built environment and restoring order to the climate for future generations.