engineering outstanding environments

In a world of ever more constrained resources, the design of building systems demands careful attention and wise choices. Initial construction, future changes, energy, and other annual operating costs must all be considered. Complex building types have intensive requirements and energy demands. We intimately understand that institutions need to balance operability and flexibility with resiliency and sustainability.

In trying to get to Net Zero, we employ clean energy sources, but those sources are often tied to a grid. Resiliency is about redundancy and backups so, for example, when there is a flood, hospital generators come on and there is no cessation of operations. Sustainability and resiliency are sometimes at odds.

Thankfully, our expertise in both sustainability and resiliency positions us to settle the quarrel between them. Our cutting-edge modeling capabilities show clients various scenarios and help then make informed decisions.

clients

Our engineers take great pride in developing creative solutions for our most technically-complex and beautiful design projects for  large and small clients in the higher education space as well as corporate and healthcare sectors.

We also have client projects that are about helping campuses get to carbon neutral.

Exterior of Maxine Frank Singer Hall at Swarthmore College

"The more closely we work together as architects and engineers – collaborating from project’s inception – the more we can move toward the goal of Net Zero, and the better our buildings function."

our approach

Ballinger develops cost-effective, sustainable energy and infrastructure solutions that don’t sacrifice operability on the path to Net Zero. As an integrated design firm, we have the proven skills to deliver both sustainable and resilient buildings that are maintainable, adaptable, and secure.

Our focus is to engineer outstanding environments in the service of thoughtful design. We understand the rigor required to engineer systems as part of a collaborative team focused on maximizing quality and work with our in-house team as well as elite design firms around the world.

energy & infrastructure

  • 2024 — ASHRAE, Second Place Technology Award

    Kinesiology Building

    University of Michigan

  • 2023 — American Institute of Architects Pennsylvania, COTE Award of Excellence

    Maxine Frank Singer Hall

    Swarthmore College

  • 2023 — Building Congress & Exchange, Craftsmanship Award, Power Generation, Distribution, and Switchgear

    Bloomberg School of Public Health

    Johns Hopkins University

  • 2023 — Building Congress & Exchange, Craftsmanship Award, Mechanical

    Bloomberg School of Public Health

    Johns Hopkins University

  • 2023 — American Institute of Architects Philadelphia, Citation for Sustainability

    Maxine Frank Singer Hall

    Swarthmore College

  • 2023 — ASHRAE Mid-Atlantic, Technology Award

    Kinesiology Building

    University of Michigan

A more prosperous future is contingent on a healthy and resilient world. For 25 years a foundation of our practice has been a progression toward Net Zero carbon facilities that are inspiring environments for learning and discovery. The goal of minimizing energy use on campus while meeting the increasing power demands of facilities housing ever-evolving research and lab programs has been a key driver in our development of innovative systems concepts.