Breathing Buildings Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation

Breathing Buildings, the pioneer of hybrid ventilation systems, is celebrating its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of innovation, growth and low-energy ventilation leadership. Founded in 2006 as a spin-out from the University of Cambridge, the company has evolved from a research-led start-up into a recognised leader in sustainable ventilation, delivering award-winning natural, hybrid and mechanical ventilation solutions across education, commercial and public sector buildings.

The company was established following the development of its pioneering E-stack mixing ventilation system, created as part of a major research programme at the University of Cambridge and MIT, funded by BP. The technology was patented by the University of Cambridge, with Breathing Buildings securing exclusive rights to this Intellectual Property: a research-led foundation that continues to shape its innovation-driven approach today.

Two decades of recognition

Over the last 20 years, Breathing Buildings has built a strong reputation for technical design expertise and innovation, winning 47 industry awards recognising both product development and low-energy performance. Its technologies have been recognised within key industry frameworks, including the Priority Schools Building Programme and revised BB101 guidance, ‘Guidelines on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools’, published by the Department of Education.

Flagship projects across the UK

The company has delivered ventilation strategies for a raft of flagship and technically demanding projects across the UK, including the James Dyson Building and Engineering Centre at the University of Cambridge, the award-winning East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) headquarters, and major commercial schemes such as the industry-leading Costa Coffee Eco Pod, and the Bloomberg European Headquarters in London.

The EAAA project received multiple accolades, winning awards from the HVR Awards, CIBSE East Anglia Awards, and the SPACES Awards for its contribution to improving indoor air quality and working environments. Meanwhile the Costa Coffee Eco Pod at Wrekin Business Park, developed in collaboration with Emission Zero, became the UK’s first zero-energy retail building and received a series of sustainability and energy awards.

Investment in manufacturing and people

As Breathing Buildings marks its 20-year milestone, the company continues to invest in both people and manufacturing capabilities to support future growth. The business has recently expanded its Dudley manufacturing facility, taking on a larger production unit to increase capacity in response to growing demand for low-carbon ventilation. This investment includes enhanced production line capacity, additional experienced staff, and the creation of a new showroom to support customers.

In addition to this investment in facilities, Breathing Buildings is also strengthening its team. Huw Poppy has returned to the company as Business Operations Director, bringing over 20 years of ventilation sector experience across low-energy ventilation design, project delivery and technical support. Widely respected across the industry, Huw has built long-standing relationships with consultants, architects, and contractors, and is also Secretary of the CIBSE Natural Ventilation Group.

Rejoining alongside Huw is James Hammick, who returns as Specification Sales Manager, South East. With over 20 years’ experience in low-carbon ventilation, James first worked with Huw in 2006 and joined Breathing Buildings in 2019, where he spent five years supporting consultants and contractors. Their long-standing professional relationship and shared expertise will further strengthen consultant engagement and specification support. Breathing Buildings is also expanding its internal design team and external sales team to support growing demand and provide enhanced early-stage consultancy.

Breathing Buildings has grown from a research-led start-up into one of the most respected names in low-energy ventilation. Over the past 20 years, we’ve continued to invest in innovation, people and manufacturing, while maintaining a strong technical focus. It’s an exciting time for the business as we continue to expand our capabilities and support customers in delivering high-performing, low-carbon buildings.

Huw Poppy, Business Operations Director

Award-winning ventilation technology

Central to the company’s success is its award-winning Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling (NVHR®) range, an adaptable solution offering hybrid ventilation, which uses both natural and mechanical ventilation in one system design. It is an ideal solution for commercial buildings with high heat gains, such as schools, colleges, leisure centres, offices, theatres, and even churches. Hybrid ventilation is highly efficient and harnesses free heat (and so energy) that has already built up within a space. By installing hybrid ventilation, commercial buildings can maximise health, comfort, and sustainability without having to invest in significant building works, making it ideal for retrofitting or change of use.

Building on this technology, Breathing Buildings introduced its next-generation, award-winning NVHRe range: Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling and Heat Recovery, which incorporates a low-resistance heat exchanger cell within the unit. This allows the unit to benefit from both heat recycling and heat recovery, reclaiming even more heat than previous models, saving more energy, providing greater occupant comfort, and allowing users to include it within building energy assessments (SBEM).

To complement its hybrid offering, the company has also expanded its portfolio with its MVHRe commercial heat recovery range, providing a high-efficiency Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system. This ventilation technology is ideal for environments such as gyms, canteens, libraries, landlocked rooms (rooms with no external walls) or spaces requiring fixed extract rates, where mechanical ventilation solutions are needed to maintain consistent air quality and comfort levels.

For further information on NVHR®, NVHRe, MVHRe, and E-stack ventilation, as well as other products and services offered by Breathing Buildings, visit www.breathingbuildings.com or call 01223 450 060.

Breathing Buildings’ 20-year timeline

• 2006 Breathing Buildings was formed as a spin-out from Cambridge University, establishing itself at the St. John’s Innovation Centre as a start-up. Breathing Buildings invented mixing ventilation technology.
• 2008 After some expansion, Breathing Buildings needed more space and acquired a factory in Cambridgeshire.
• 2009 Further expansion and larger manufacturing capacity and offices were needed, so the company moved to Sturton Street until 2020.
• 2011 Huw Poppy joined Breathing Buildings and a commercial sales team was established.
• 2014 Mixing ventilation was listed in the Facilities Output Specification for the Priority Schools Building Programme.
• 2016 Volution acquired Breathing Buildings.
• 2018 Mixing ventilation was listed in the revised BB101 for DfE schools. NVHR® hybrid ventilation won two awards: the HVR Award for ‘Commercial/Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year’ and the Energy Saving Awards ‘Energy Efficient Product of the Year HVAC&R’.
• 2022 Breathing Buildings won ‘Collaboration of the Year’ at the HVR Awards for its project at East Anglian Air Ambulance, improving indoor air quality. One week later, it scooped the CIBSE East Anglian Awards ‘Project of the Year’ for the same project, followed by a win at the SPACES Awards.
• 2023 Breathing Buildings launched its new, innovative NVHRe natural ventilation with heat recycling and heat recovery.
• 2024 Breathing Buildings won two industry awards for the new NVHRe: the HVR Awards ‘Commercial/Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year’, and the Energy Savings Awards ‘Commercial Ventilation Product of the Year’.
• 2025 Breathing Buildings relocated its factory from Cambridgeshire to a larger manufacturing site in Dudley, and added mechanical ventilation to its product portfolio with the MVHRe commercial heat recovery unit.
• 2026 Breathing Buildings celebrates its 20th anniversary, reflecting on all its innovations, achievements and sustainable project solutions.