M. DENNIS KNIGHT | PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PE, FASHRAE, DAL, CxA, BEMP, LEED AP(NC and O&M), BPI BA&EP

M. Dennis Knight has over 40 years’ experience in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of high performance buildings. He is an ASHRAE Director at Large, an ASHRAE Fellow (FASHRAE) and ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer. Mr. Knight’s expertise lies in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Integrated Building Design. He currently chairs both the ASHRAE BIM Multi-disciplinary Task Group, where he is the liaison to the International Building Smart Alliance, and the annual ASHRAE Energy Modeling Conference.

Mr. Knight founded Whole Buildings Systems, LLC, in 2010 after having owned both an engineering firm and a construction company, and most recently as a Principal at Liollio Architecture in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a registered mechanical and fire protection engineer, an ACG certified Commissioning Authority, an ASHRAE certified Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP), a LEED NC and EB O&M Accredited Professional and a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified Building Energy Analyst (BA) and Envelope Professional (EP).

During his career, Mr. Knight has commissioned hundreds of new buildings and audited or retro-commissioned over 100 million square feet of existing commercial, federal and industrial building stock. He introduced Revit 3D drawing to a 30 person architectural firm and provides whole building energy simulation analysis using Trane Trace 700. 

Mr. Knight frequently lectures in the US and abroad on high performance building tools and technology and has authored numerous publications and white papers on a variety of technical topics. He has developed curriculum and teaches on BIM, Integrated Building Design, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, ASHRAE 90.1 and IECC energy code compliance, energy management for historic structures in hot and humid climates, and energy modeling and commissioning of energy using systems.

Mr. Knight’s vision for Whole Building Systems is to assist owners, architects, contractors and facility management professionals to adopt new tools and process improvement strategies that will result in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high performance building that meet the triple bottom line.

Publications

• National Institute of Building Science, Whole Building Design Guide; HVAC Web Pages, Co-Author; www.wbdg.org
• ASHRAE Journal Article, May 2006 “Specifications for Integrated Building Design”; Co-Author
• ASHRAE Applications Handbook 2007 Edition – Chapter 57 “Integrated Building Design”; Subcommittee Chair and Co-Author
• ASHRAE Journal Article, September 2008 “Teams Contracts & BIM”; Author  ASHRAE Journal Article, June 2010 “BIM for Energy Modeling”; Co-Author
• City of Charleston Sustainability Plan (also known as “The Charleston Green Plan”), Co-Author

Honors and Awards:

• ASHRAE Director at Large – 2014
• ASHRAE Fellow - 2012  City of Charleston Stewardship Award - 2010
• ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• ASHRAE Regional Service Award - 2009
• USGBC SC Chapter Annual Leadership Award - 2008
• AIA Charleston Chapter Special Leadership Award - 2008
• ASHRAE Research Promotion “Top Dog” Award - 2004 and 2005
• Charleston Joint Engineers Society Engineer of the Year Award - 2002-2003
• Past President Charleston Chapter ASHRAE - 1986 and 2000
• Chairman, Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, Town of Mt. Pleasant, SC - 1999