Loisos + Ubbelohde is an office of unconventional practice that collaborates with architects and developers to confront big issues in sustainability, human comfort and urbanity. We bring a perspective integrating both architectural and engineering approaches to building design, bridging these two fields to find unique solutions for building performance and occupant comfort. As a small, nimble firm we work collaboratively with architects, owners and the design team. Our work rests on exposure to leading edge research and a proven track record of over 3 decades in professional practice. L+U projects have been consistently recognized with awards for both design and sustainable performance from local, national and international organizations. Our solutions are innovative and beautiful, backed by science and decades of experience.
Founded in 1994, Loisos + Ubbelohde has focused on assisting architects and design teams on a wide range of building types, sizes, and sectors. Our expertise lies in the performance and design light, energy and the environment.
• Light services include daylighting design and analysis to deliver visual comfort while reducing energy use. Our expertise extends to shading analysis and design as well as glazing analysis and specification that addresses visual, thermal and comfort conditions.
We provide full service lighting design that is carefully integrated with daylighting design as well as accurate analysis of potential solar reflections from building glazing and curtainwalls.
• Energy services include both performance energy modeling and regulatory modeling (for code requirements and LEED) as part of the design process. We develop early energy use parametrics to identify energy saving opportunities in design alternatives as well as to consult on energy generation using solar, wind and fuel cells. We also design
and install comprehensive building monitoring systems in order to verify actual building performance.
• Environmental services include consulting on sustainability strategies and integration of these into the design process. LEED Certification, zero-Energy and zero-carbon designs are services we offer, although we find increasing challenges with climate change and
disasters. We have expertise in planning and design for resilience. This includes predicting future conditions, simulating and designing for critical life-support conditions, designing renewable energy sources and storage for resilient scenarios, and providing manuals for phases of disaster response and operation.
We work closely with university researchers, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and other research institutions to apply the most sophisticated and appropriate tools and technology to the design of high-performance buildings. We have pioneered new methods of energy conservation, production and analysis; lighting and daylighting design and analysis; and the design and fabrication of light emitting and controlling elements including light sculptures. On staff we have four architects registered in California, two in Spain and one in India; three certified Building Energy Modeling Professionals and two NCQLP certified lighting designers. The firm is a member of the USGBC, ASHRAE, IESNA, IBPSA and Facade Tectonics.