Built Environment Matters

Can AI Cut Medicine Costs? The Future of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | Martin Wood & Adrian La Porta

As AI promises to accelerate drug development, a critical question emerges: can pharmaceutical manufacturing keep pace? In this episode, Martin Wood and Adrian La Porta examine how artificial intelligence could transform the entire pharmaceutical value chain, from quality control paradigms to facility design.Recorded as a preview to Bryden Wood's Accelerate Pharmaceuticals event on 25th November, the discussion explores fundamental questions about the future of drug manufacturing. Adrian argues that current quality systems are essentially compensations for our limited understanding of manufacturing processes - and that AI could enable a complete reversal of this paradigm through real-time, data-driven quality monitoring.The conversation ranges from the potential for patient data feedback loops that could reshape manufacturing in near real-time, to whether facilities should be designed around autonomous systems rather than people. They examine why continuous manufacturing has struggled to gain traction, whether digital twins could eliminate traditional scale-up challenges, and how distributed manufacturing models might reshape global supply chains.A thought-provoking exploration of whether AI can finally bridge the longstanding gap between drug development innovation and manufacturing industrialisation - and what it will take to get there.Send us a textTo learn more about Bryden Wood's Design to Value philosophy, visit www.brydenwood.com. You can also follow Bryden Wood on LinkedIn.

AI Edge Revolution: How Data Centres are Reshaping for AI Service Serving a Vertical Need | Emmanuel Becker

The data centre industry is experiencing unprecedented disruption. As AI applications drive explosive demand for computing power, traditional approaches to data centre design and deployment are becoming obsolete almost overnight.In this episode, Emmanuel Becker, CEO of Mediterra Datacenters, shares insights from his extensive career spanning the evolution from on-premise to cloud to AI-driven infrastructure. With NVIDIA releasing new GPU generations every 6-12 months, data centre operators face an impossible equation: building facilities meant to last decades while needing flexibility every few months.Emmanuel discusses Mediterra's innovative approach, including their focus on mid-voltage power infrastructure, liquid cooling readiness, and strategic positioning in tier two cities. The conversation explores how vertical AI specialists are driving regional demand, why ‘permanent retrofit’ is becoming standard practice, and how the industry must evolve to serve distributed intelligence rather than centralised hyperscale computing.A must-listen for anyone involved in digital infrastructure, technology deployment, or understanding how AI is reshaping the built environment.Send us a textTo learn more about Bryden Wood's Design to Value philosophy, visit www.brydenwood.com. You can also follow Bryden Wood on LinkedIn.

Climate Resilience in UK Housing: Preventing Overheating in Net Zero Homes | The Bryden Wood Podcast

The UK's push toward net zero has dramatically improved building insulation and airtightness. But there's an unintended consequence that could prove dangerous: overheating. As climate change brings more extreme heat to Britain, these highly insulated homes risk becoming dangerously hot without adequate cooling strategies.In this episode, co-founder Martin Wood explores climate resilience in residential design with Helen Hough and Pablo Gugel from our sustainability team. With Pablo's Spanish perspective on Mediterranean design principles, they examine how the UK can adapt its housing for a hotter future without resorting to energy-intensive air conditioning.The conversation covers everything from cultural shifts in thermal comfort expectations to the massive challenge of retrofitting millions of existing homes. They explore whether government intervention is necessary given the scale of the problem, and question whether we're modeling future climate scenarios or simply ignoring the risks ahead.A thought-provoking discussion about designing for the climate we're actually going to live in, not just the regulations we need to meet today.Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - The perfect storm facing UK housing 3:00 Mediterranean lessons: shading and cultural adaptation 8:00 Thermal comfort expectations vs climate reality 15:00 Retrofit priorities: walls, glazing, or energy supply? 25:00 The density problem: underoccupied housing 35:00 Government intervention vs individual responsibilitySend us a textTo learn more about Bryden Wood's Design to Value philosophy, visit www.brydenwood.com. You can also follow Bryden Wood on LinkedIn.

UK Industrial Strategy: Analysis, Gaps, and the Path to Growth | Bryden Wood Podcast

Welcome to the Bryden Wood Podcast. In this episode, 'UK Industrial Strategy: Analysis, Gaps, and the Path to Growth', co-founder Martin Wood, Technical Director Adrian La Porta, and John Dyson examine the UK's recently published industrial strategy.The discussion highlights the positive aspects of the strategy, such as establishing a 10-year framework for economic stability , identifying key high-growth sectors (advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, defence, digital/technologies, financial services, life sciences, and professional/business services) , and its systems-thinking approach to complex challenges. They note the importance of a focus on pharmaceuticals, an area where the UK has historically excelled in innovation. The strategy's attention to reducing electricity prices for energy-intensive businesses and boosting R&D is also acknowledged as positive.However, the conversation pivots to what the strategy lacks: a clear 'industrialization strategy' that details how economic growth will be achieved. The team points out the disconnect between university education and industry needs, particularly in areas like automation. They also discuss the UK's 'cultural gap' and 'structural problem' regarding investment confidence at critical stages for new ideas , and the tendency to silo efforts rather than fostering integration between regional clusters.The podcast explores broader issues like the UK's productivity puzzle , the low uptake of AI and robotics in SMEs , and the need for a compelling national vision beyond mere policy documents. They argue for a stronger connection between educational institutions and industry, akin to the US model where universities actively foster startups.Ultimately, the episode emphasises that while the industrial strategy is a good start, its success hinges on fostering deeper integration between commerce, education, and investment , and creating a cohesive, skilled workforce across all levels.Intro: 0:00John Dyson on UK Industrial Strategy: 0:27Adrian La Porta on Industrialization: 3:52Martin Wood on Stability and Environment: 5:21Integration and Investment Gaps: 7:23Clusters and Regional Issues: 10:55Education, Skills, and Industrialization: 15:16Cultural and Economic Reflections: 21:29Vision, Integration, and Conclusion: 25:34Send us a textTo learn more about Bryden Wood's Design to Value philosophy, visit www.brydenwood.com. You can also follow Bryden Wood on LinkedIn.

Doing the hard yards: Tackling the hard to abate sectors for net zero

Join Bryden Wood's Martin Wood and Adrian La Porta as they explore the most difficult parts of the economy to decarbonise – the mission to make the toughest sectors of our economy carbon-neutral.Inspired by the Climate Change Committee's recent findings, this episode unpacks why industries such as steel, cement, chemicals, and aviation pose unique challenges for achieving net zero.They explore innovative pathways beyond simple electrification, the necessity of viewing technologies within an integrated network, and the critical role of governmental intervention (through both ‘carrot’ incentives and ‘stick’ mandates). Listen in to discover why focused action on these difficult areas is paramount for meeting global climate targets and what collective steps can be taken.Send us a textTo learn more about Bryden Wood's Design to Value philosophy, visit www.brydenwood.com. You can also follow Bryden Wood on LinkedIn.