Don has 25 years experience in the use and development of building simulation software and also spent two years as a Building Services Engineer at Balfour Kilpatrick. He holds a BSc in Environmental Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, and also spent nine years in the ABACUS unit, at the Department of Architecture in the University of Strathclyde, undertaking a PhD and Post Doctoral research. During this time ABACUS was one of the foremost departments in the application of computers in the building design process.

For a number of years Don was involved in the prototyping and testing of many of the ideas and concepts he had developed from his time as an Environmental Engineer and at ABACUS. During this time he was involved in many landmark building simulation projects across the world. This experience of developing and applying building simulation programmes combined with his knowledge of Environmental Engineering and his experience with architects have given him a unique understanding of how building performance tools can significantly improve the building design process.

Don realised that the only way to make these concepts and ideas effective within the design process was to develop them in a fully commercial environment. Hence in June 1994, Don founded Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) in order to develop the < Virtual Environment > suite of integrated building design and simulation tools. His objectives were to overcome many of the obstacles to the uptake of building simulation products and ultimately fully integrate them into the building design process. With the increasing uptake of < Virtual Environment > throughout the construction industry it appears that many obstacles are being overcome.

Don regularly presents on the use of building performance simulation to facilitate improved integrated building design and energy efficient design.





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