Building B Conceptual Sketch

Site Plan Development

With the schematic design of Building A complete, we have transitioned to the design of the interpretive center (Building B). We are refining the site plan to include the interpretive center and a deeply shaded pergola. The pergola is conceived as a climate moderating outdoor element that connects the interpretive center to the fuel processing building. We have selected the southeast corner of the lot as the site of the interpretive center because it affords an excellent balance between physical, climatological, and experiential access.

Interpretive Center (Building B) Program

Building B

Diagram of sizes and relationships for Building B program.

Presentation For Mid Review

Final Boards for Mid Review

Cascaded carbon emissions - Project A

Cascaded energy use by fuel type - Project A

Cascaded Site/Source energy use - Project A

Cascaded parametric modeling - Project A

The selected design alternatives have been parametrically modeled and applied to the base case model, one on top of the other ("cascaded"), to estimate their impacts on whole building energy performance. These design features have been incorporated into the final schematic design of the Project A building.

Discrete parametric modeling example - materials study

This example (Project A materials study) illustrates the way design alternatives have been modeled in eQUEST as discrete parametric runs. The results are compared to the base case in order to estimate the impact of each measure on overall building energy performance.

Discrete parametric modeling - Project A

The table lists the design alternatives that have been parametrically modeled in eQUEST as discrete modifications to the base case energy model. The results of these "discrete parametric runs" have been used to evaluate individual design alternative effectiveness with regard to their impacts on building energy performance.

eQUEST energy modeling overview

A major goal of this project is to explore methods that can be used to create beautiful and functional energy-efficient buildings. With this goal in mind, we have used eQUEST (DOE2) to quantify the energy performance characteristics of all design alternatives. This means that energy modeling has been used from the beginning of the design process to inform critical design decisions. ProjectX explores the integration of cutting-edge quantitative energy modeling tools into the traditional architectural design process, however the information gained from this approach is not the only factor guiding our design decisions.

Energy modeling has been used in three distinct phases as part of our design process:

1. Preliminary building Shape Study

2. Discrete parametric modeling of design alternatives

3. Cascaded parametric modeling of design alternatives

Preliminary building shape study

A beginning building form grew, in part, out of the information gained from the preliminary building shape study (see 2/15/09 and 2/20/09 posts). The building was refined and set to comply with the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G to form the "Base Case" eQUEST energy model.

Discrete parametric modeling

A series of design alternatives were parametrically modeled and evaluated against the base case model. These discrete parametric runs have been used to steer numerous design decisions.

Cascaded parametric modeling

A final eQUEST model has been created that is based on information gained from the discrete parametric modeling process. The design alternatives that have been selected and incorporated into the final schematic design are cascaded over the base case in order to estimate whole building performance.

Page Layout in Revit

North Elevation

Initial Building A Form

Project A Refined Building Shape Study

The initial building shape study (Shape Study 2) has been refined to incorporate basic daylighting controls into the base case model. All other model definitions of the initial study remain the same. The addition of daylighting controls will provide further insight into the effect of building shape on overall building performance. The results of this study are reported according to predicted site and source energy use. 

Project A Initial Building Shape Study

We have used eQUEST to make initial inquiries (Shape Study 2) into appropriate energy-efficient building configurations. Starting with an absolutely "dumb" square box basic information has been used to define the initial base case:

1. 5000 sqft office/warehouse building

- Office-1800 sqft (40%)

- Warehouse-3000 sqft (56%)

- Restrooms-200 sqft (4%)

2. Phoenix, AZ TYM2 weather data location

3. HVAC-DX coils with natural gas furnace

4. No daylighting

5. Square footprint (70.7ft x 70.7ft)

6. Perimeter zone depth - 15ft

7. Floor to floor height - 17ft

8. Metal frame construction (R19 insulation)

9. One door on each facade

10. Double pane clear glazing with aluminum frames (without thermal breaks)

11. Window to wall ratios

- North/South - 32.6%

- East/West - 10%

12. No exterior window shades

13. Building operates 7 days/week from 7am to 4pm

Based on the above described base case a number of different building configurations have been parametrically modeled in eQUEST using the EEM wizard. The results of this shape study have been summarized according to predicted site and source energy use.