Building Performance Knowledge Community

What do you think about conceptual modeling for design validation? Does this technical approach / process inhibit design flow or does it help?
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Premnath Sundharam AIA
Senior Associate
DLR Group, Inc.
Phoenix AZ
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I believe early design analysis, even during conceptual design, is a necessity.  I don't particularly see it as validation as much as informed decision making.  I believe validation comes in later stages, as the analysis becomes more refined.  Early analysis, conceptual as it may be, sets the foundation for higher performance and establishes a metric for the design process.  If early analysis inhibits design flow, then the design process itself needs to be revisited.

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Jason Hainline Assoc. AIA
Dake Wells Architecture
Springfield MO
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I agree with Jason, energy analysis at the conceptual phase is a critical exploration, not a validation. It allows the designer to quickly explore the "What ifs?" oomparing the performance implications of design choices. Rapid energy modeling in the concept phase can save money, both in construction and operation, and reduce environmental impacts. It is a must for an integrated design process.

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Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-25-2012 09:32
From: Jason Hainline
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I believe early design analysis, even during conceptual design, is a necessity.  I don't particularly see it as validation as much as informed decision making.  I believe validation comes in later stages, as the analysis becomes more refined.  Early analysis, conceptual as it may be, sets the foundation for higher performance and establishes a metric for the design process.  If early analysis inhibits design flow, then the design process itself needs to be revisited.

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Jason Hainline Assoc. AIA
Dake Wells Architecture
Springfield MO
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Calling it as "informed design decision" psychologically sounds better than design validation. I agree.

On the same line of thought, who should be performing these studies? 
1. The architect/designer
2. Project Architect who is primarily responsible to implement the design
3. An energy modeler
4. An engineer

What are your thoughts?

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Premnath Sundharam AIA
Senior Associate
DLR Group, Inc.
Phoenix AZ
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-26-2012 01:55
From: Alan Scott
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I agree with Jason, energy analysis at the conceptual phase is a critical exploration, not a validation. It allows the designer to quickly explore the "What ifs?" oomparing the performance implications of design choices. Rapid energy modeling in the concept phase can save money, both in construction and operation, and reduce environmental impacts. It is a must for an integrated design process.

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Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
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I am less concerned about who conducts the studies, as long as these conditions are met:

1. The person conducting the analysis is a competent user of the simulation tool. The "garbage in/garbage out" rule applies.
2. The design team and the person conducting the analysis agree on what questions need to be answered.
3. The analysis is initiated early in the design process and completed quickly so that the results can actually inform the design.

The right person for the analysis, given these conditions will vary depending upon the capabilites of the design firm, the consults they have access to and the size and complexity of the design project.

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Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-27-2012 09:46
From: Premnath Sundharam
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

Calling it as "informed design decision" psychologically sounds better than design validation. I agree.

On the same line of thought, who should be performing these studies? 
1. The architect/designer
2. Project Architect who is primarily responsible to implement the design
3. An energy modeler
4. An engineer

What are your thoughts?

-------------------------------------------
Premnath Sundharam AIA
Senior Associate
DLR Group, Inc.
Phoenix AZ
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 04-26-2012 01:55
From: Alan Scott
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I agree with Jason, energy analysis at the conceptual phase is a critical exploration, not a validation. It allows the designer to quickly explore the "What ifs?" oomparing the performance implications of design choices. Rapid energy modeling in the concept phase can save money, both in construction and operation, and reduce environmental impacts. It is a must for an integrated design process.

-------------------------------------------
Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
-------------------------------------------

I would tend to agree.  The person who is responsible for the analysis must be knowledgeable about the analysis process and perhaps more importantly how to interpret the results.  Interpretation includes an understanding of how buildings use energy as well as software troubleshooting.  With that said, the analysis is not just an engineer's responsibility and the architect should be deeply involved in the process.  Too often, energy analysis is conducted behind closed doors with little to no real time involvement of the architect (or the engineer for that matter when conducted by a consultant).  Taking a reactionary approach to analysis results will always fall short of the objective.

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Jason Hainline Assoc. AIA
Dake Wells Architecture
Springfield MO
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2012 08:07
From: Alan Scott
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I am less concerned about who conducts the studies, as long as these conditions are met:

1. The person conducting the analysis is a competent user of the simulation tool. The "garbage in/garbage out" rule applies.
2. The design team and the person conducting the analysis agree on what questions need to be answered.
3. The analysis is initiated early in the design process and completed quickly so that the results can actually inform the design.

The right person for the analysis, given these conditions will vary depending upon the capabilites of the design firm, the consults they have access to and the size and complexity of the design project.

-------------------------------------------
Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 04-27-2012 09:46
From: Premnath Sundharam
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

Calling it as "informed design decision" psychologically sounds better than design validation. I agree.

On the same line of thought, who should be performing these studies? 
1. The architect/designer
2. Project Architect who is primarily responsible to implement the design
3. An energy modeler
4. An engineer

What are your thoughts?

-------------------------------------------
Premnath Sundharam AIA
Senior Associate
DLR Group, Inc.
Phoenix AZ
-------------------------------------------

Thank you Jason. Ability to interpret results is probably the most important part of being a competent user.

-------------------------------------------
Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2012 09:04
From: Jason Hainline
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I would tend to agree.  The person who is responsible for the analysis must be knowledgeable about the analysis process and perhaps more importantly how to interpret the results.  Interpretation includes an understanding of how buildings use energy as well as software troubleshooting.  With that said, the analysis is not just an engineer's responsibility and the architect should be deeply involved in the process.  Too often, energy analysis is conducted behind closed doors with little to no real time involvement of the architect (or the engineer for that matter when conducted by a consultant).  Taking a reactionary approach to analysis results will always fall short of the objective.

-------------------------------------------
Jason Hainline Assoc. AIA
Dake Wells Architecture
Springfield MO
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2012 08:07
From: Alan Scott
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I am less concerned about who conducts the studies, as long as these conditions are met:

1. The person conducting the analysis is a competent user of the simulation tool. The "garbage in/garbage out" rule applies.
2. The design team and the person conducting the analysis agree on what questions need to be answered.
3. The analysis is initiated early in the design process and completed quickly so that the results can actually inform the design.

The right person for the analysis, given these conditions will vary depending upon the capabilites of the design firm, the consults they have access to and the size and complexity of the design project.

-------------------------------------------
Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 04-27-2012 09:46
From: Premnath Sundharam
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

Calling it as "informed design decision" psychologically sounds better than design validation. I agree.

On the same line of thought, who should be performing these studies? 
1. The architect/designer
2. Project Architect who is primarily responsible to implement the design
3. An energy modeler
4. An engineer

What are your thoughts?

-------------------------------------------
Premnath Sundharam AIA
Senior Associate
DLR Group, Inc.
Phoenix AZ
-------------------------------------------

Most of us old guys grew up with the notion that the conceptual design phase explored the functional and aesthetic features of different design schemes and options.  Having the ability to quantify, at least in relative terms, the energy costs of these schemes is an important service for many clients today.  And being able to offer this service would be a competitive advantage today.  This same service will be essential for most clients in the near future, and any firm not having this ability will be at a competitive disadvantage.

The key point here is to inject valid (aka: reliable) energy data into the design process as early as practical.  Insofar as this data has not been part of conceptual design the last 60 years, adding it into the data set we now think worthy of consideration will change design flow somewhat, but those changes will be for the better.

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David Schele AIA
Felder Group Architects Inc
Austin TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-26-2012 01:55
From: Alan Scott
Subject: Conceptual Energy & Performance Analysis Training

I agree with Jason, energy analysis at the conceptual phase is a critical exploration, not a validation. It allows the designer to quickly explore the "What ifs?" oomparing the performance implications of design choices. Rapid energy modeling in the concept phase can save money, both in construction and operation, and reduce environmental impacts. It is a must for an integrated design process.

-------------------------------------------
Alan Scott FAIA
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Portland OR
-------------------------------------------