A Methodology for Sustainable Design Analysis of Large Scale Buildings

R. Richarde1, R. Ibrahim2
1Department of Architecture,
California Polytechnic State University, USA.
2Construction Engineering & Management Program,
Stanford University, USA.


Abstract

Long-term sustainability—including maintenance, operation, and life cycle cost analysis—should start during the concept design stage where most critical decisions are determined. This paper provides advice for owners, facility managers, and designers to optimize sustainable design options. Furthermore, by front ending the costs for implementing those design options, owners return on their investments will likely be long term, they will likely have reduced operational maintenance costs, and will likely have an increase in global energy conservation. This paper proposes how to formalize a “Sustainable Methodology” (SM) to facilitate effective contributions by decision makers during early concept design stage of a facility development project. The SM framework has five phases: input, evaluation, summarization, synthesizing, and output. These phases are initiated by the owner’s preliminary architectural program and sustainable design goals, starting with site planning. The site planning elements are climate (macro- and micro-climate), orientation, use, function, shape/form, and surrounding (landscaping and buildings). The SM framework evaluates planning elements and suggests implementation options in harmony with environmental sustainability objectives.
In addition, this paper describes how the SM framework was tested on a multi-story mixed-use development project during its site planning. Further studies can extend the SM framework to include other aspects of facility design such as envelope, structure, services, and space planning.
Keywords: concepts, elements, phases, layers, components, scenario, strategy.

Here is the link to the paper.