Oculus Building Science & Façades
Architectural Technicians
About us
Oculus is a new kind of engineering consultancy - for architects and project managers who want peace of mind and better outcomes.
With offices in New Zealand and the Fraser Valley, BC, Canada, we bring together specialists in structural engineering and building enclosure (façade) engineering to help you deliver buildings that are healthier, more efficient, and built to last. Our team combines global best practice with deep local knowledge - and a detailed understanding of safety in design - so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
If you’re leading a project, you already know the pressure points - seismic risk, moisture management, evolving code requirements, tricky junctions, consent delays, and site surprises. These can stall progress, add cost, or compromise your design.
That’s where we come in. We work alongside your team from the start to identify risk, simplify detailing, streamline compliance, and resolve complex technical challenges before they reach site. Our approach is collaborative, flexible, and always focused on finding the right solution for your project - not just ticking the boxes.
With Oculus on your team, you get more than code compliance. You get proactive guidance, clear communication, and expert support at every stage. We obsess over building science, so you don’t have to - bringing deep technical insight to every decision, so you can focus on what you do best.
Every project is unique, and we treat it that way. Whether you’re building something bold, something bespoke, or something that simply needs to perform - we’re here to help you make it happen, smoothly and successfully.
Our Method
Every project is unique so we follow a process to mitigate the risks of poor performance (during design, construction and building use) that allows for the individual nature of every building.
The design and construction of the building envelope is critical to the success of the built environment. There are many risks of poor performance of the building enclosure which impact on the design & construction of the building: overruns of design programme, cost impact of the design, excessive consent periods, poor constructability and expensive running costs due low long term performance & maintenance. The building envelope cannot be treated as a stand alone element as its performance fundamentally impacts on the performance of every other element of the building.
We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality work in a manner that it is efficient and cost-effective for our clients. If there is an area that you have a question on, please reach out, we will be happy to walk you through each step.
Our Services
Below is a list of services Oculus provides, and the relevant team member to discuss your project requirements with.
- Building Envelope Design – designing what separates the inside and outside of buildings.
- Engineering Judgement – assessing how a product achieved compliance with the Building Code and providing compliance certification.
- Airtightness Testing.
- Energy Modelling – Modelling a building to understand the proposed heating and cooling energy required to keep a healthy internal environment.
- Passive House Design – Certified Passive House Designers.
- Hygrothermal Analysis – Interstitial Condensation Analysis.
- Airtightness Testing.
- Waterproofing & Basement Tanking Design.
- Facade Testing Facilities.
Contact us at info@obsf.co or get in touch with the team directly.
Resources
These resources have been created by Oculus to provide advice and guidance. All resource articles follow international best practice and are backed by science. For more resources visit our website.
What is a Healthy Home?
We already know what acceptable, healthy indoor conditions are. Decades of research has shown a defined range of indoor conditions reduce the risk of adverse health impacts.
No matter what house you live in you can improve your health if you live within this range of healthy indoor air quality.
This guide explains what a Healthy Home is, why Oculus are trying to achieve it, and what any New Zealander can do to their own house to improve their health.
Download: Healthy Home Guide
Fire Compliance of Cladding Systems
After researching the fire compliance of cladding in New Zealand since 2017, some may say advice from Oculus is conservative, but they prefer to think of it as design for the safest and best economical outcome.
This document outlines the compliance pathways and advice that follows international best practice.
Download: Fire Compliance of Cladding Systems
Building with warm roofs
What is the difference between a cold roof and a warm roof, and why should we build with warm roofs? How does a warm roof impact the performance of my home? What differences in mould growth is seen with little-to-no insulation compared to insulation in a cold roof? This guide explains it all.
Download: Build With Warm Roofs
Ventilation Systems
Many buildings in NZ are still being built with “natural ventilation” being relied upon to provide adequate fresh air. While this solution may be “acceptable”, it is not actually effective, because it is usually based on hopes and wishes rather than proper engineering design.
This document explains the various types of ventilation systems, how they perform in the home, and what we should actually be working towards.
Download: Ventilation Systems
Building Better by OBSF
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel where building science meets real-world know-how.
You’ll find bite-sized lessons in our Building Science Crash Course series, and deeper dives (and debates) in 2 Engineers 3 Opinions - our new podcast-style show where we break it all down and leave you smarter than before.
(If your company or organisation is looking for a personalised webinar or training session, please get in touch.)
Locations we service
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Business details
- Category:
- Architectural Technicians
- Business focus:
- Commercial
- Verified ArchiPro member since:
- 2021
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