Breathing Buildings was established in 2006 following the development of the proprietary E-stack mixing ventilation system. This innovative technology emerged from a major research programme undertaken in collaboration with Cambridge University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with funding provided by British Petroleum. The technology was subsequently patented by the University of Cambridge.
Breathing Buildings holds exclusive rights to this intellectual property and has since helped transform the ventilation industry. Today, the company is recognised as a leader in the design and manufacture of award-winning, energy-efficient natural and hybrid ventilation systems, delivering innovative solutions that improve indoor air quality, enhance occupant wellbeing, and support a more sustainable built environment.
What this means for you
Our product designers and team are committed to developing industry leading products that incorporate the most energy-efficient components that maximise energy efficiency with minimum CO2 emissions and capital cost. In fact, many of our products and installations have won prestigious Awards relating to sustainability, have a look at our news and case studies or talk to our team.
We are passionate about ventilation, enhancing the indoor environment for everyone. From initial customer enquiry, you will be supported by a remarkable team of engineers who help clients design truly stunning low-energy buildings with stimulating environments, superb air quality and thermal comfort for all occupants, improving wellbeing and productivity. Our consulting engineers work with the design team to discuss the different ventilation options and provide in-depth analysis to ensure buildings do not overheat. We are the only company in the industry who can provide the whole range of tools to model ventilation in buildings; dynamic thermal modelling, computational fluid dynamics, water-bath modelling, zonal modelling, analytical modelling, and bespoke energy modelling.
Once a system is ordered our project engineers liaise with our UK factory to coordinate the delivery of products and control systems to sites across the UK. Our commissioning team then ensures that every system we supply is properly installed, and can be monitored and serviced as part of our after-sales service, providing further peace-of-mind and ensuring your systems operates effectively, for longer.
2006 Breathing Buildings was established as a spin-out from Cambridge University and launched as a start-up at the St John’s Innovation Centre in Cambridge. Since its inception, the company has pioneered mixing ventilation technology, delivering innovative solutions that improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
2008 After some expansion, we needed more space so we acquired a factory in Cambridgeshire
2009 Further expansion and larger manufacturing capacity and offices needed, so we moved to Sturton Street until 2020
2011 Huw joined 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 and won two awards. The HVR Award for NVHR® ‘Commercial/Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year’ and The Energy Saving Awards ‘Energy Efficient Product of the Year HVAC&R’
2022 Breathing Buildings wins more awards for ‘Collaboration of the Year’ at the HVR Awards for their excellent project at East Anglian Air Ambulance improving indoor air quality, one week later scouping the CIBSE East Anglian Awards for ‘Project of the Year’ for the same project.
2023 Breathing Buildings launches new, innovative NVHRe natural ventilation with heat recycling.
2024 Proud winner of two industry awards. HVR Awards for ‘Commercial/Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year’ for the new NVHRe natural ventilation with heat recycling and The Energy Savings Awards ‘Commercial Ventilation Product of the Year’.
2025 Relocated its factory from Cambridgeshire to a larger manufacturing site in Dudley and adding Mechanical ventilation to our product portfolio.
2026 We celebrate our 20th Birthday, and reflect on all of our innovations, achievements and sustainable project solutions!