Using Forma & FenestraPro for Design Optimisation with Architectural Technology Students

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Introduction by Kirk McCormack, Head of Architectural Technologies,   

School of Architecture and Building Environment, Technological University Dublin.   

Through a series of workshops, and a project, the students were required to explore alternative design options for a multi-storey cellular office block in central London. The students were provided with a basic form as a base building and carried out a series of initial macro analyses, exploring the impact of the surrounding environment along with wind, noise, sun hours, daylight potential and microclimate.   

The students then carried out a series of micro analyses on the building itself. They explored the impact of the façade on the building’s performance using the FenestraPro Envelope Analysis extension in Forma. The students were required to explore alternative Glass to Wall Ratios and distribution of glazing, select and apply alternative construction types for the envelope components, demonstrate code compliance, overall annual and monthly average heat gains, daylight levels and impact of shading from surrounding buildings. As required, the students also explored the introduction of shading devices to manage heat gain while maximising natural daylight.   

Based on the understanding and interpretation of the result of the analysis, the students were then required to explore alternative building geometries and façade arrangements, maintaining the total area of the building while adjusting the footprint and heights to propose alternative forms. Both Autodesk and FenestraPro supported the students in their analysis through a series of presentations and workshops over the course of the semester.   

Following their submissions of the final presentations, 10 of the 35 projects were longlisted for consideration by the Autodesk Forma and FenestraPro teams of which 3 projects were short listed. These 3 projects can be accessed by linking HERE.  

One final winner was selected, congratulations to Bobby McNamee, who has won a small bursary from Autodesk – Congratulations Bobby! Bobby has written about his experience below.    

Using Forma & FenestraPro for Design Optimisation, by Bobby McNamee, Third Year Architectural Technology Student in Technological University Dublin. 

As part of my building performance module at TU Dublin, I recently used Autodesk Forma with the FenestraPro Envelope Analysis add on. I'm delighted to be given the opportunity to share my experiences, the choices I made, and the insightful knowledge I was able to gain from the experience. 

Using Autodesk Forma, I created the foundational building model and performed analyses on factors such as wind, noise, sunlight exposure, daylight potential, and microclimate conditions using Forma’s extensive analysis capabilities.  

The findings in Forma indicated suboptimal sunlight exposure due to the building's mass and height, elevated noise levels at lower floors resulting from nearby roads and railways, and a daylight potential score ranging from 21% to 40%.  

While utilizing Fenestra Pro, I examined two design options. Option 1 featured glazing covering 80% of the building's surface, which aligns with the standard for new constructions in London, resulting in an overall average heat gain of 27 W/m². This approach aimed to maximize solar heat gain while also addressing potential overheating by incorporating shading solutions, given the building's limited height. Additionally, adjacent structures provided shading that influenced the heat gain.  

Option 2 proposed a slightly higher glazing percentage of 85%. This adjustment aimed to enhance daylight intake, particularly on the WNW and NNE facades, which received less sunlight throughout the day. Furthermore, triple glazing units were implemented to improve U-values, reduce passive solar heat gain and provide sound insulation against the high noise levels from the railway and main road traffic.  

After conducting a thorough review of all tests and analyses performed in Forma, I adjusted the design and orientation of the building to increase its height and enhance exposure to the southern and western facades.  

The Forma analysis revealed several key findings: a 15% increase in sunlight hours, reduced wind speeds around the building, and reduced solar gain due to decreased shading from neighboring structures.  

Nevertheless, the potential for daylight and noise levels remained unsatisfactory, with daylight potential ranging from 21% to 40% and noise levels reaching up to 77 dB on the lower floors adjacent to the main road according to the Forma analysis. Again, using Fenestra Pro, I observed a tendency for the building to experience overheating during the summer months, particularly on the southern and western facades.  

For the second option, I implemented a lower glazing percentage of 78% to mitigate excessive solar heat gain and overheating, while maintaining a higher glazing ratio on the northern facade to enhance daylight potential. Again, I proposed the use of triple glazing units to improve U-values and provide sound insulation from the noisy surroundings. 

After evaluating both design options and their orientations in Forma, I arrived at my preferred design solution. I developed a Y-shaped mass, with a focus on maximizing sunlight exposure on the south and west facades. This design reaches a height of 35 stories, aiming to minimize noise pollution while maximizing solar heat gain.  

The outcomes from the analysis in Forma were impressive, with substantial sunlight hours recorded on both the upper and lower floors, resulting in a solar energy yield of 1020 kWh/m². This success can be attributed to the building's height and minimal shading from neighboring structures.  

The results from the FenestraPro analysis indicated that overheating did not occur at any time throughout the year, with an average heat gain of 25.03 W/m², despite utilizing triple glazing units that accounted for only 60% of the facade.  

In conclusion, I found that utilizing tools such as Autodesk Forma and FenestraPro significantly enhanced the design process, in this example, for a multi-story office building. This led to a more effective architectural solution that optimizes sunlight exposure while reducing noise pollution. Despite some challenges regarding daylight potential and noise levels, the innovative Y-shaped design illustrates the potential for enhanced building performance through careful analysis and strategic design decisions.