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Proceedings of CHAMPS 2011: The 8th International Forum and
Workshop on Combined Heat, Air, Moisture and Pollutant Simulations
March 20-22, 2011 Nanjing, China
“VIRTUAL DESIGN STUDIO”-- Part 1: Design Processes
P. M. Pelken1, J.S. Zhang1, W. Feng1, Y. Chen1, D. Rice1, L. Gu2 and H. Henderson3
1Syracuse University; 2Florida Solar Energy Center; 3CDH Energy
Corresponding Author: Paul Michael Pelken, E-mail: mpelken@syr.edu
SUMMARY
The “Virtual Design Studio (VDS)” is a software platform for integrated,
coordinated and optimized design of building energy and environmental systems.
It is intended to assist architects and engineers throughout from the early to
detailed building design simulations as analyzed in Part 2. This paper summarizes
how the VDS relates to design stages and respective performance optimization
strategies.
Keywords: Integrated design, Design studio, Building simulations, Modeling
INTRODUCTION
Purpose: “VDS” is here defined as a digital
interface and platform for multi-disciplinary
coordinated and integrated design of
buildings. Its purpose is to help architects
and engineers to conduct performance-
based design of sustainable buildings that
are aesthetically attractive, functional,
healthy, productive, energy & resource
efficient, and environmentally responsible.
Compared to a conventional design studio
(Table1), VDS is intended to enable more
efficient and effective design collaboration and coordination, easier access to vast design experience and
expertise, more timely feedback and iterations for optimization throughout all design stages, better integration of
different building technologies, and more accurate performance prediction.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES – REFER TO PART II OF THE PAPER FOR DETAILS
The objectives to study are 1) Develop a method for integrating conceptual to detailed design processes, with
which designers can quantitatively evaluate the predicted performance of various design options, to iterate and
optimize the design;
2) Develop an integrated simulation environment for energy efficiency and IEQ analysis;
3) Develop and implement Energy Plus (E+) and a method for interaction/coupling with CHAMPS-Multizone;
4) Develop a user friendly environment / platform that also integrates well with existing Building Information
Models (BIM). This paper summarizes how the VDS relates to design stages and respective performance
optimization strategies, while more detailed platform design considerations will be described in the companion
paper (Part 2).
ARCHITECTECTURAL PLANNING AND DESIGN CRITERIA
In order to develop methodologies for a coordinated and fully integrated work flow, the design process itself and
its planning parameters as well as the typical team constellation and respective methodologies need to be
understood. Next to the architectural design procurement, engineering concerns are addressed in greater detail
throughout the design process. In addition to a this list of typical ‘standard’ design team services, various
specialists from different fields need to be involved according to complexity and scope of the building program,
required planning input, and the expected building performance and environmental quality. For the architectural
design process various defined professional planning steps are required from the early to the final contractual
stages leading to construction. The mandatory development stages are contractually binding for all participating
parties according to national professional standards and liabilities. Thus the planning process is typically
standardized according to the respective architectural chambers legislative requirements and fee structure. As
much as many other norms in the construction industry, these professional standards and liabilities can vary
Table 1: VDS vs. Current Practice
Features Current Practice Virtual Design Studio
1 Collaborative Planners + Digital media & KBES
2 Performance estimation Experience + Simulations
3 Heuristic thinking Yes + Enhanced by KBES
4 Feedbacks and iterations for
optimization Limited More efficient and
quantitative
5 Integration (performance
aspects & life cycle stages) Limited More convenient &
quantitative
6 Visualization Manual 3D
representation Digital, animation,
virtual reality
Proceedings of CHAMPS 2011: The 8th International Forum and
Workshop on Combined Heat, Air, Moisture and Pollutant Simulations
March 20-22, 2011 Nanjing, China
internationally. As a design tool with a great degree of flexibility and opportunities for customization, these
international differences must be considered and built into the predicted planning and simulation model. While
similar in nature, different planning sequences and building standards do apply. In order to understand a
simplified version of planning practices and to couple them with performance criteria and respective simulation
techniques, project stages are translated into performance target categories (Table 2). As examples, professional
working stages from the USA, UK and Germany were analyzed and compared.
Table 2: Professional project working stages simplified to VDS targeting categories
1
2
3
4
5
6
Project assessment > Advisory and negotiation stage
Set targets > Concept Design
Meet targets > Schematic Design
Confirm targets > Final Design
Implement targets > Realization
Feedback > Post construction monitoring and supply of data base
RELEVANT ASPECTS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND SIMULATED
For a comprehensive understanding of all design related issues investigations on various scales are required.
General sustainability aspects, energy related topics and site conditions frame the building project. Massing and
orientation determine a variety of efficiencies related to specific climate conditions. The programmatic zoning
impacts system loads and external envelope characteristics. Active, passive and hybrid HVAC systems, as well
as energy and water conservation strategies are to be considered. Among all others, life cycle assessment and the
use of renewable energy sources impact viable financial efficiencies. A project matrix is used to establish
relationships of planning stages and evaluation criteria throughout the project duration, so that every junction
between a particular stage and all performance considerations can now be investigated as an isolated process,
while at the same time its impact on the whole building performance be readily assessed via simulations.
PROCESSING AND PLATFORM DESIGN
In order to structure the VDS platform various parameters need to be correlated: design stage, performance
criteria, and participating parties (architectural design, systems design and project management teams) as well as
the required scope of processing information throughout all stages.
Within this matrix, the required input, suggestions for performance evaluation processes, and the respective
output will be presented based on whole building or component simulations in comparison with minimum (e.g.,
ASHARE standards 55.1, 62.1 and 90.1) and advanced standards (e.g., LEED, ASHRAE 189.1). In response to
established professional performance standards the VDS platform will facilitate simulation processes by offering
a range of options for the project specific customization of prediction techniques (Table 3).
Table 3: VDS Processing of design stage, participating CONCLUSIONS
parties, design considerations and processing structure
A VDS framework has been established. It will enable all
participating parties (organized by architectural, systems
design and project management teams) to correlate project
specific working stages and performance criteria, and will
help to coordinate the required input, an appropriate
simulation methodology, and the respective desired output
throughout all planning stages in an optimization process
REFERENCES
AIA, Best Practices and contract forms information, July 2010; German § 3 HOAI of the respective version
from 2009; RIBA Guide to Professional Experience, UK, July 2010; ASHREA Performance Rating Standards;
BREEAM Performance Standards, UK, 2011; USGBC, LEED Rating System, 2011
