Sean Langley, senior design manager at GRAHAM, tells Project Scotland what Passivhaus adoption means for the construction industry in 2026
THE construction industry is at a turning point. With net zero carbon targets becoming a reality, delivering high-performance buildings is no longer optional – it is essential. In my experience, the challenge lies not just in adopting new standards, but in embedding them into every stage of a project.
Passivhaus offers a proven framework to do this, providing high-quality, energy-efficient, and comfortable buildings, but it demands precision, collaboration, and commitment.
Over the past year, I’ve observed a significant shift in attitudes toward Passivhaus. Developers, clients, and consultants alike are beginning to recognise that upfront investment in design, planning, and training pays dividends over the lifetime of a building.
Delivering a Passivhaus-certified building requires a fundamentally different approach. Every detail – from thermal bridging and insulation continuity to air tightness and ventilation – must be carefully considered. Where traditional building regulations allow greater tolerance in performance outcomes. Passivhaus operates within much tighter, evidence-based limits.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that Passivhaus is as much about people as it is about design. The risk of underperformance is high if teams are unprepared, which is why training and collaboration are essential.
At GRAHAM, we’ve invested in upskilling our teams and supply chains to ensure everyone understands the standards, their role in achieving them, and the collective responsibility required to maintain quality on site.
It was against this backdrop that GRAHAM took on Belfast’s first high-rise Passivhaus student accommodation, Weavers Hall for Queen’s University Belfast. This project was unusual in that we were engaged from the very start – at RIBA Stage 0 – allowing us to shape the design with Passivhaus certification as a core objective rather than a later add-on.
The opportunity to lead the project from concept to completion meant we could embed rigorous quality standards throughout. Every element – from insulation thickness and heating and ventilation strategy to triple-glazed windows – was carefully developed, selected and tested. Air tightness, as always, was critical.
Achieving the standard meant coordinating a large, multi-trade supply chain involving tens of sub-contract organisations across the project lifecycle, ensuring that every penetration through the building envelope was sealed to exacting standards.
The project also highlighted the importance of collaboration. Success depended on early and active engagement with the client, our design team, and our supply chain. By sharing knowledge and experience, we created a culture of accountability, ensuring that the building met its performance goals.
While the upfront design and construction period for Weavers Hall was more intensive than a typical student accommodation project, the long-term value is clear. Operational energy is significantly reduced, and the building is designed to last for decades with minimal environmental impact.
The lessons learned here provide a blueprint not just for future GRAHAM projects, but for the wider industry.
From my perspective, the next 12–18 months will be pivotal for Passivhaus adoption across the UK and Ireland. We’re beginning to see more developers embrace the standard, not only for the environmental benefits, but also because it represents the future of sustainable construction.
Contractors who understand how to deliver Passivhaus projects efficiently, and clients willing to invest in long-term value, will lead the market.
That said, the challenges remain – more time, more attention to detail, and a willingness to invest in training – but the opportunities are immense. Passivhaus is no longer a niche; it is increasingly recognised as a benchmark for high-quality, low-carbon construction in appropriate building types.
As we move into 2026, the construction industry must embrace this standard – not just to meet regulations, but to deliver buildings that are smarter, safer, and greener. Passivhaus represents not just a technical standard, but a disciplined mindset focused on performance, accountability and long-term value for the future of construction.
