My grade school had big tall windows where the top and bottom panes opened. The ceilings were high, so the top pane was operated by a pole with a little hook at the end that you used to grab the latch (which had a loop on it) and push the window open. Then you hooked it and pulled it back in to close and latch. That was the old style (main parts of building were from the 30's).

Surely they make transom hardware like that? "Not possible for it to open if it's high" seems like a silly answer from an architect. I mean, you'd probably need a window pole if you don't want Victorian-style transom hardware with the long rod hanging down (I have those in my house - most of the interior doors have transoms).

Also, you definitely want those upper transoms to open - the whole point of having them is because they open up and can seriously help with cooling down/ventilating the house. Bottoms ones won't give you that benefit (hot air rises and all that jazz).

You can use any operable window as a "transom" restricted only by the size requirements of the operator type. The other considerations of course will be how it looks, and how it will be operated given the location. Casements and awnings work well and look pretty clean, resembling a fixed unit from both exterior and interior expect for the hardware on the interior side. As the poster above stated, you should be able to find some appropriate hardware for operation

Truth Actuators can be added to any operable window. This makes the opening and closing of windows possible with a remote. The Awning or Casement window can be at any appropriate distance from the floor. Some awning windows also come with manual cranks that can be operated with a pole as described by queenvictorian.

Good luck!

We had them installed in the mid 1980s and had the pole. It worked but it was awkward and after awhile we didn't bother. A remote would have been nice along with screens to keep out birds, bats, and insects. We had Milgard windows. Ours were in a clerestory and much higher than 8 feet.

Tell your architect to go back to school , of course you can have operable transoms they were BTW made in the old day to always be operable to allow air flow in officce buildings.

Agree with the above posts.

Marvin full line has a solution that I have used many times. An awning (hinged on the top, opens in, screen on the exterior) with an op-o-lock system (must choose this option for out of reach application (minimal up charge)). Window can be controlled with either a manual pole or electrically wired/remote. This is an aluminum clad wood product but I am not aware of anything else offered in fiberglass or vinyl. An aluminum hopper window is another good choice but there are energy issues with those.