Architecture Engineers Award

Optimizing building performance requires acknowledging the stochastic nature of occupant control behaviors, which significantly influence energy consumption, thermal comfort, and visual comfort outcomes. Traditional building performance models often rely on oversimplified behavioral assumptions and demand extensive computational time for stochastic simulations. This study proposes a novel optimization framework specifically designed to address uncertainty in occupant behavior while improving computational efficiency and solution robustness in building design optimization. Methodological Integration of Stochastic and Intelligent Optimization Techniques The proposed approach integrates Sample Average Approximation (SAA) with Monte Carlo simulations to obtain convergent mean performance estimates under uncertainty. To accelerate optimization, machine learning (ML) models are coupled with a Pareto-based Genetic Algorithm (GA), enabling rapid prediction of building performance metrics acr...

Improving building envelope performance is a critical strategy for reducing heating energy demand and enhancing indoor thermal comfort in cold climates. This study evaluates the thermal effectiveness of four advanced insulation materials—phase change materials (PCM), aerogel, vacuum insulated panels (VIP), and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)—through dynamic energy simulations. Using 24 years of hourly climate data, five wall configurations were analyzed, including an uninsulated reference case. The research focuses on annual heating demand, surface temperature stability, thermal time lag, and comfort hours to determine how different material properties contribute to energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Methodological Framework and Simulation Approach The investigation employed dynamic building energy modeling using EnergyPlus, incorporating long-term hourly climate data to ensure robust performance assessment. PCM behavior was simulated through an enthalpy–temperature phase ch...

Over the past decade, additive manufacturing has significantly transformed the construction industry, enabling the rapid development of 3D printing systems for building applications worldwide. Despite technological progress and increasing industry adoption, limited research has addressed the seismic behaviour of monolithic 3D-printed structures. This gap presents a critical challenge, particularly for regions exposed to seismic hazards. The present study responds to this need by conducting a systematic experimental investigation into the structural and dynamic performance of a full-scale 3D-printed housing unit, aiming to establish foundational knowledge and contribute to seismic design guidance for this emerging construction technology. Mechanical Characterisation of 3D-Printed Materials The research begins with an extensive mechanical characterisation of the printed material to understand its structural properties and anisotropic behaviour. Preliminary experimental tests, includin...

  High-rise office buildings frequently experience airflow stagnation zones on windward façades, particularly at mid-height levels where wind streams divide upward and downward. These stagnation effects limit natural ventilation potential and increase reliance on mechanical cooling during warm seasons. This study investigates how parametric façade aperture design can strategically enhance airflow distribution and reduce cooling loads in high-rise office buildings. Focus on Stagnation-Level Floor and Design Hypothesis The research concentrates on the floor intersecting the façade stagnation point, where airflow dynamics are most constrained. It is hypothesized that optimized aperture geometry and spatial distribution can redirect pressure differentials to improve indoor ventilation performance and thermal comfort, thereby reducing cooling energy demand without mechanical intervention. Multi-Stage Methodological Framework A multi-stage methodology was implemented integrating com...

Drying of concrete is widely recognized as a critical factor contributing to the long-term deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. While laboratory investigations on individual RC members have provided valuable insights, real structural systems experience more complex boundary and environmental conditions that may alter their mechanical response. This study investigates the structural implications of concrete drying at the building scale under cyclic loading conditions. Experimental Program and Specimen Configuration A quasi-static cyclic loading experiment was conducted on one-third scale, three-story RC frame buildings. Two environmental conditions were considered: a saturated (wet) condition and a two-year natural drying condition. This comparative setup enabled direct evaluation of drying-induced effects on structural stiffness, deformation characteristics, and damage progression. Effect of Drying on Initial Stiffness and Stress Transfer Results reveal a signific...

The accelerating global transition toward carbon neutrality demands rapid and reliable energy prediction tools for innovative building systems such as Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) modular buildings. Conventional physics-based simulation methods, while accurate, are computationally intensive and unsuitable for real-time design optimization. This study proposes a novel machine learning-based rapid energy prediction methodology tailored specifically to the thermal and geometric characteristics of modular BIPV-integrated buildings. Feature Engineering for Modular Building Representation A comprehensive feature engineering framework was developed to capture the distinctive attributes of modular construction. The approach incorporates six-surface thermal property encoding, geometric parameters, and detailed solar irradiance calculations to represent envelope exposure and inter-module interactions. This structured encoding ensures that key thermal behaviors and photovoltaic infl...

Buildings remain major contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions, intensifying the urgency of envelope innovations that enhance energy efficiency and climate resilience. As extreme weather conditions increasingly challenge conventional passive design strategies, adaptive façade technologies have gained prominence. Phase Change Material (PCM) glazing offers a promising approach by increasing thermal inertia, reducing cooling demand, and improving indoor comfort. However, its performance under diverse climatic and operational contexts remains insufficiently quantified. Multivariate Design Framework and Simulation Scope This study conducts a comprehensive multivariate analysis of PCM glazing across ten representative climates in Europe and North America. Key design variables include window-to-wall ratio (WWR), façade orientation, and PCM type, evaluated under two internal heat gain scenarios. A validated heat transfer model integrated into EnergyPlus™ was used to perform 4,320 si...

Enhancing the thermal efficiency of building envelopes while preserving mechanical integrity remains a central challenge in sustainable construction. Conventional insulation mortars often struggle to simultaneously optimize low thermal conductivity, moisture resistance, and adequate structural strength. This study develops aerogel–perlite–cement (ACM) composite insulation mortars through particle packing optimization to achieve balanced thermal, mechanical, and hygric performance, while also evaluating their building-scale energy implications. Material Design Based on Particle Packing Optimization ACM mortars were formulated using the modified Andreasen & Andersen particle packing model with distribution moduli of q = 0.2 and 0.3 to optimize aggregate gradation. A silica aerogel slurry was incorporated into expanded perlite carriers to enhance insulation performance while maintaining structural cohesion. This design strategy aims to minimize pore connectivity for improved therma...

  Residential buildings designed to comply with winter-oriented efficiency standards increasingly struggle to maintain safe indoor conditions during summer heat stress and under long-term climate change. Conventional regulatory frameworks treat building performance as a static compliance outcome rather than a dynamic trajectory shaped by irreversible structural design decisions. This study reconceptualizes residential performance as a time-dependent process influenced by envelope mass, ground coupling, and evolving climatic conditions. Experimental Design and Monitoring Framework The research is based on full-scale experimental monitoring of two identical residential test buildings differentiated by envelope thermal mass and floor-ground interaction. Continuous performance measurements were conducted to capture seasonal energy behavior and indoor thermal responses, particularly under extreme summer conditions. This empirical foundation enables robust comparison of structural des...

Accurate modeling of cooling and heating systems is fundamental to reliable building energy simulation, particularly for high-performance buildings targeting low-carbon objectives. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump systems are widely adopted due to their flexibility and efficiency; however, simulation accuracy strongly depends on the quality of performance input parameters. This study investigates how different performance curve inputs influence the predictive reliability of VRF system simulations in EnergyPlus. Testbed Validation and Model Calibration A validated experimental testbed model, calibrated using field measurements from a controlled test facility in South Korea, was employed to ensure realistic baseline performance. The calibrated model provided a reliable reference for comparing simulation outputs under varying input curve assumptions, enabling quantitative assessment of modeling accuracy. Comparison of Performance Input Configurations Three simulation configu...

Net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) are designed to achieve annual balance between renewable energy generation and consumption. However, real-time mismatches persist due to photovoltaic (PV) intermittency and inflexible building loads. Electric vehicles (EVs), equipped with mobile storage capacity and bidirectional charging capabilities, offer significant flexibility potential to mitigate these temporal imbalances. This study investigates coordinated EV integration strategies within a rural solar-powered NZEB context. Integrated Energy System Configuration and Operational Scenarios An integrated energy system combining grid interaction, PV generation, stationary battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, and building loads was developed. Three operational strategies were designed: Case 1 (rule-based control), Case 2 (building-to-vehicle, B2V), and Case 3 (vehicle-to-building combined with building-to-vehicle, V2B + B2V). These scenarios enable comparative evaluation of unidirectiona...

Accurate forecasting of building energy consumption is essential for achieving carbon neutrality, enhancing operational efficiency, and maintaining long-term building performance. While significant attention has been given to short-term prediction models, the progressive effects of building performance aging particularly on HVAC energy consumption—remain insufficiently quantified. This study addresses this gap by developing a robust data-driven methodology to diagnose aging-related performance degradation using long-term operational datasets. Long-Term Dataset and Integrated Analytical Framework The research is based on ten years (2015–2024) of continuous operational data from a university educational building in Chongqing, China. The dataset integrates sub-metered HVAC energy records, detailed meteorological observations, and occupancy-related proxy variables. This comprehensive data fusion enables the isolation of performance aging effects from climatic and behavioral variability,...

Ensuring the operational continuity of socially critical facilities such as schools following earthquakes is essential for community resilience and disaster recovery. In Türkiye, where seismic risk is high and portions of the public building stock lack adequate engineering design, assessing structural vulnerability and implementing effective retrofitting strategies are urgent priorities. This study investigates seismic strengthening approaches for representative school building typologies to enhance structural safety and post-earthquake functionality. Characterization of School Building Typologies and Seismic Parameters Three commonly used reinforced concrete school building types (8-, 14-, and 22-classroom configurations) were selected to represent vulnerable public building stock. Parametric analyses incorporated variations in peak ground acceleration (PGA), local soil conditions, and material strengths to reflect regional seismic diversity. These parameters allowed for realistic ...

Accurate knowledge of the thermal envelope and its physical characteristics is essential for reliable building energy performance assessment. In existing buildings, limited information regarding construction details and hidden defects often leads to significant discrepancies between simulated and actual energy performance. This performance gap undermines retrofit planning, increases operational costs, and hinders carbon reduction efforts, highlighting the urgent need for improved on-site diagnostic methods. Role of Envelope Uncertainty in the Performance Gap Insufficient data on airtightness, insulation continuity, and thermal bridging directly affects the accuracy of building energy models. These uncertainties make it difficult to evaluate retrofit options reliably and often result in conservative or inefficient interventions. Addressing envelope-related unknowns is therefore critical for cost-effective and performance-driven retrofit strategies. Acoustic Air Leakage Detection Met...

Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) façades play a critical role in advancing net-zero and energy-positive building strategies by simultaneously serving as envelope elements and renewable energy generators. However, optimizing BIPV façades is challenging due to competing performance objectives, particularly photovoltaic energy generation and indoor daylighting quality. This study proposes a parametric optimization framework to systematically address these trade-offs during early-stage design. Challenges in Balancing Energy Generation and Daylighting Façade design decisions, such as window-to-wall ratio (WWR), directly influence solar exposure on opaque surfaces for photovoltaic efficiency while also affecting indoor daylight availability and visual comfort. Increasing PV-active areas often reduces daylight penetration, whereas excessive glazing can compromise energy generation potential. These conflicting requirements necessitate a multi-objective optimization approach. Paramet...

Material selection is a critical determinant of sustainability in building design, requiring careful balance between structural performance and environmental impact. Conventional Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows often separate structural analysis from embodied carbon assessment, limiting the ability to efficiently explore design alternatives. This study introduces the Structural-Carbon Integrated Design (SCID) framework as a unified approach to address this challenge. Limitations of Conventional BIM-Based Design Approaches Traditional BIM workflows typically evaluate structural stability and environmental performance in isolation, resulting in fragmented decision-making and increased computational effort. Such separation restricts rapid comparison of material strategies, particularly during early design stages when design flexibility and impact reduction potential are highest. Development of the SCID Framework The SCID framework integrates structural performance evalu...