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An Integrative Design Process (IDP) is a collaborative approach to building design which places a strong emphasis on cross-team integration throughout the development process in pursuit of a ‘whole building’ holistic design. But where does it start and what does it really mean? How can the range of IES <VE> software tools be used to assist in the design process?

In conventional building design a project develops through a strict and rigid chain of milestones and hand-offs e.g. owner requirements to architect, architect’s concept to structural engineer, structural design to MEP engineer etc.

This conventional process means that key members of the design team are often excluded from the initial planning stage, and with the lack of their expert knowledge and insight the project can progress down the wrong path for a significant period of time before serious underlying problems are identified. This leads to inefficiency; higher capital costs, time delays, over-sized HVAC etc.

With an Integrative Design Process (IDP) all key members of the multi-disciplinary design team are included at the very beginning of the planning stage, from the initial conception of the building itself. In this way all major design decisions can be carefully considered in relation to other disciplines right from the outset. This avoids abortive work resulting from single-minded decisions and increases overall project efficiency.

So where does building performance analysis fit-in?

The IES <VE> platform provides a unique set of analysis tools that allow building performance analysis to be used throughout every stage of the project, from concept to completion. An experienced <VE> engineer becomes an integral member of the IDP team and can really help drive the design to meet aggressive sustainability targets and objectives.

Let’s look at the lifecycle of a typical project and how the <VE> could be used at each stage:

Concept: VE-Ware and VE-Toolkits used with Google SketchUp ‘massing’ models of various design options and iterations to determine performance characteristics: climate metrics, optimum site orientation, daylight feasibility, ballpark energy estimates etc.

Scheme: Findings from Concept analysis used to select the ‘optimum’ design solution which is then progressed to schematic stage. VE-Toolkits and VE-Gaia used to enhance the basic design i.e. optimize; shading, building envelope, daylight, energy etc

Detail: Enhanced model from Scheme design is driven more aggressively with VE-Gaia and VE-Pro to extract further energy savings i.e. optimize; HVAC plant selection (right-sizing), electric lighting dimming control strategy, zone set-back temperatures, boiler/chiller optimum start/stop etc.

Construction: Findings from Detail analysis input to Construction Documentation and the optimized Detail model is then
updated with ‘As-Built’ information. This ensures that the specified design has actually been installed i.e. do pressure test results match the design infiltration rates, are installed plant efficiencies and SFP’s as per the MEP spec, has the glazing data specified(u-value, SC etc.) actually been installed? Comparative VE-Pro analyses conducted to benchmark Design vs As-Built

Commissioning: Findings from Construction comparison used to drive Quality Assurance (QA) checks in order to identify areas that are not installed and performing as per design. Detailed <VE> room loads can be used to assist in production of Commissioning Documentation and for balancing calculations for duct and pipework systems.

Operation: 6months to 1yr after completion recorded BMS readings can be compared against the As-Built Construction model. Comparative analysis is used to determine areas of the building and associated HVAC plant which are not performing as per design. The building FM team continues to monitor BMS vs Model readings, making site changes where necessary to ensure that the building operates at optimum performance.

This example illustrates how the building performance analysis can be used to fully support an Integrative Design Process. By utilizing the unique four-tiered <VE> approach (VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits, VE-Gaia and VE-Pro) there is an analysis tool for every occasion which can be closely aligned with the sustainability objectives of the project in order to realize the maximum potential.

Through the use of the Google SketchUp based conceptual <VE> analysis tools a building’s energy and carbon footprint can be optimized from the initial outset of the project, before it has a chance to progress down a wrong path. By getting involved early more aggressive energy and sustainability targets can be met and realized such as LEED Platinum, Estidama 5-Pearl, BREEAM Outstanding etc

But the use of performance analysis tools at concept stage alone is not enough on to reach these higher objectives. Aggressive targets mean that an aggressive modeling strategy must be used an continued throughout the project from concept to completion. This is the only way of designing buildings that are truly ‘green’ and is the only way of taking the Integrative Design Process to ‘Infinity and Beyond’.

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Tags:BREEAM, climate, daylighting, Engineers, Estidama, HVAC, LEED, sketchup

Further to Roger’s blog which provided an overview of green building regulatory schemes and current developments in the Australian market I thought I’d provide a similar update from a Middle East perspective.

Historically the Middle East has lagged the Western world in terms of green building initiatives and it has been normal practice for design teams based in the region to simply adopt established Western schemes such as LEED & BREEAM in order to comply with local regulatory requirements. These local regulatory building code requirements themselves are often very vague and open to manipulation, as are the green building rating schemes themselves since they were never written with the Middle East climate and it’s unique economy in mind.

Given the constraints involved in trying to make Western designed schemes fit a unique and very different climate and economy it is exciting to see the recent developments in LEED 2009, BREEAM Gulf and Estidama, all of which aim to address the challenges involved when using the more dated and rigid rating schemes.

The LEED 2009 requirements have changed significantly with an increased emphasis on sustainable sites, water and energy efficiency - all of which spell good news for the Middle East region by increasing a project’s LEED potential. BREEAM Gulf differs from it’s UK counterpart in that it places more emphasis on mixed-use developments and treats the building as a whole rather than separate use entities. This approach reflects the unique construction market in the Gulf region where mixed-use developments are standard practice.

One of the most exciting developments in the Middle East region to date is the introduction of a new initiative called Estidama (‘sustainability’ in Arabic) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Currently in development by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council the Estidama initiative is the first of it’s kind in the region and aims to assist in the creation of more sustainable communities and cities.

What is interesting to see is Estidama’s unique approach in addressing the challenges faced in sustainable construction and development and just how much the scheme differs from it’s US and UK counterparts, LEED and BREEAM. The main difference with the Estidama initiative is that in essence it is not really a program or a rating system at all, but a high-level aspiration to achieve a more sustainable way of living by striking a balance between environmental, economic, cultural and social issues.

The ‘Pearl Rating Method’ is embedded within the Estidama initiative and this has more in common with the standard US and UK green building rating schemes. The Pearl Rating Method forms part of the local regulatory building code requirements and rates a building on a scale of 1-5 Pearls, but it is important to note that the Estidama scheme itself is much more than a simple building rating tool.

Due to the current economic crisis across the globe the construction sector in the Middle East has been hit hard and things have certainly slowed down somewhat in the last eight or months or so. But given the recent and ongoing developments in the three main rating schemes in use across the region one thing looks certain, whenever the market does pick up again it will be an exciting time with sustainability higher on developer’s agendas than it ever was before.

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Tags:BREEAM, Building Regulations, Estidama, LEED, Middle East, Sustainability