Learn by Design Task

Understand how BEM can help make design decisions throughout all phases of the project.

This section aims to demonstrate how BEM analysis can support specific design goals in each phase of a project. The design process is illustrated on a timeline with specific BEM analysis tasks mapped to design tasks performed by architects and engineers during a design project.

The articles try to explain the objectives or decisions to be made by the design team for specific design tasks, what data may be useful to them while performing these tasks, and how BEM can be used to provide useful and timely information. The articles include background information on specific design strategies and building science and how they are represented in BEM models.

Browse by Design Task

Select your project's design phase to view an overview of design tasks that occur during that phase, or click the 'Expand' button to drill down to more specific pages.

Pre-Design (0)

Site Analysis

• Climate analysis
• Available utilities and fuel sources
• Site conditions

Energy Code and Program Analysis

• Determine the applicable energy code
• Determine ventilation requirements
• Determine applicability of beyond-code programs
• Identify potential incentives

Building Program

• Review space type percentages
• Identify any special space types

Project Goals/Targets

• Research performance benchmarks
• Set performance goals for the project
• Determine renewable generation objectives

Conceptual Design (1)

Design Kickoff

• Using BEM to support a charrette
• Brainstorm and vet ECMs

Building Form and Mass

• Analyze the building's orientation
• Compare Massing Options

Design Concepts

• Constructions and thermal mass options
• Fenestration and daylighting options
• HVAC system options - conceptual design
• Natural ventilation design features
• Renewable energy options
• Passive solar design features

Assess Conceptual Design Performance

No pages meet these criteria.

Schematic Design (2)

Architectural Design Activities

Progression of Main Design Concepts

• Constructions and thermal mass options
• Fenestration and daylighting options
• Natural ventilation design features
• Passive solar design features
• Renewable energy options

Preliminary Floor Plans

• Analysis of energy and comfort impacts of different programming layouts
• Analysis of the impact of locations of special zones
• Analysis of how HVAC loads differ for different programming layouts

Preliminary Facade design

• Window-to-wall ratio parametric studies
• Shading feature design analysis
• Analysis of potential for natural ventilation and passive cooling
• Analysis of thermal performance of different wall construction materials
• Analysis of thermal performance of different glazing performance specifications

Engineering Design Activities

Loads Analysis

• Analysis of how HVAC loads differ for different programming layouts
• Load reduction modeling

System Selection

• Compare the performance of different HVAC system options
• Test strategies to reduce lighting power density
• Analyze the impact of lighting control strategies

Develop Schematic Design Drawings

No pages meet these criteria.

Energy (and Other Metrics) Estimation

No pages meet these criteria.

Integrated Design Activities

Coming soon!

Design Development (3)

coming soon!

Construction Documents (4)

coming soon!

Note: The design phase titles are typical of projects in North America. For international projects, numbers are added in parenthesis to indicate the "Plan of Work" phases as developed by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).