Copyright ©2013 Sefaira Ltd.
PER FOR MANCE BASED DESIGN: CR E ATING HIGH - PER FOR MING CONCEPTS
SUSTAINAB LE DE SIG N B RIE F
Performance Based Design:
Creating High-Performing Concepts
Performance Based Design is an approach in which performance analysis
is used to inform design, rather than in its traditional role as a validation
tool. Appropriate analysis can be used to answer relevant questions at
every stage of design—providing the design team the information they
need to address performance in a creative, flexible way.
The design typically moves at breakneck speed from idea through
concept and schematic design. In these early stages the design team
makes hundreds of decisions in an effort to achieve a compelling solution
that satisfies dozens of design requirements, from building program
to budget. Many of these decisions can have an outsized impact on
performance, and can be difficult to change in future stages. It is in these
stages when rapid sustainability analysis can make a critical difference.
This design brief explores two ways to leverage analysis during concept
and schematic stages to create high-performing concepts: (1) comparison
of design options, and (2) iterative optimization of concepts. We use a
multi-family residence in Denver, Colorado as an illustration.
This is the second in a three-part series on how to leverage performance analysis to drive
decisions at each stage of the design process.
Preparation /
Pre-Design
Concept /
Schematic
Design
Design
Development
Technical Design
Documents
Proposal / Bid