What is the impact of Massing on Radiation Benefit?

Alejandra Menchaca - February 01, 2021

Short span (3 second)

What is the impact of Massing on Radiation Benefit?

Project Location:

Simulation Scale:

Application:

Audience:

What is this graphic showing? Describe the different parts of the graphic and how it communicates the data.

Four different massings were being contemplated by the architect during the first weeks of concept design. No time nor enough inputs for an energy model. The radiation benefits analysis shows the impact of each building on the harmful (red) and beneficial (green) radiation received on each elevation. The pie charts at the bottom allow comparing the massing in a quantitative way. We also provided an "envelope to floor area" metric to indicate which massing has the lowest envelope ratio. School building in ASHRAE Climate zone 5A, balance point temperature 62F.

Is this part of the ASHRAE-209 cycle?

  • Cycle 2 Conceptual Design

What tools were used for the simulation analysis?

  • Ladybug Tools

What tools did you use to create the graphic?

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Grasshopper/Rhino

What was successful and/or unique about the graphic in how it communicates information?

It allowed the design team to clearly understand the potential impact on heating and cooling of each massing choice, both qualitative (which orientation is best or worse) and quantitative (which massing performs best overall).

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

More on radiation benefit analysis. Credit for the analysis goes to Mingbo Peng.

Included in the competition:

Solar Shading and Building Performance
Solar Shading and Building Performance

January 7, 2021-February 8, 2021