ARC-322 Building Systems II Syracuse University School of Architecture | Fall 2022

Term Project Instructor: Nina Sharifi | [email protected]

BUILDING SYSTEMS DESIGN + INTEGRATION: TERM PROJECT

The semester project will challenge you to examine concepts of whole building design performance through
analysis of case studies and itera�ve re-contextualiza�on and reconfigura�on of building systems. The project
will require demonstra�on of in-depth understanding of key criteria for which building systems are designed and
integrated, which will be presented in this course through lecture, reading, and discussion. These criteria lie at
the intersec�on of conven�onal and emerging design and performance considera�ons, and will comprise energy,
environmental, serviceability, construc�on, and occupant health metrics and standards. The mul�scalar
interrela�onships of regulatory forces, occupant needs (e.g., life safety, operability, wellbeing, etc.), climate
condi�ons, and life cycles of material assemblies, among other topics presented in lecture, will converge around
the technical exercise in three parts. Each part will build cumula�vely into a final proposal, to be presented and
exhibited at the semester’s end.

Qualita�ve analysis, as well as mul�ple digital tools capable of delivering various quan�ta�ve values, will be
consulted and employed throughout this exercise. Typical Meteorological Year (Tmy3) data can be used to assist
you in analysis and visualiza�on of site/climate data at your chosen building’s primary and secondary loca�ons,
including solar radia�on, wind direc�on, etc., and can be found at the EnergyPlus website. Climate Consultant,
THERM, Rhino, and Grasshopper (Ladybug, Honeybee, DIVA) should all be installed on the machine with which
you plan to work prior to launching this project, and should be engaged in your inves�ga�ons as soon as
possible.1 Machines in the School of Architecture Computer Lab have already been equipped with all so�ware
necessary for this course.

All work should be submi�ed in 8x10 Portrait Book Format, in PDF file format with the naming conven�on
Team(number)_P(part).pdf. Example: Team12_P1.pdf. Each subsequent submission should include all previous
submissions, the submission for part two should include part one, and so forth. Late work will not be accepted.
All work submi�ed should be original drawings, diagrams, and text discussions authored by students, with no
excep�ons. A�er each submission students will receive feedback from their instructors, and revised content can
be submi�ed in the following submission, for example updates and correc�ons to part one work can be included
in the part 2 submi�al.

1 Although students are generally responsible for learning software, customized tutorials will be provided as necessary (to be determined through dialogue
between instructors and students), as well as in-class workshops and troubleshooting sessions. Take note that all software besides Rhino is free, and we
will review the correct and reputable sites for downloading software in class.
ARC-322 Building Systems II Syracuse University School of Architecture | Fall 2022
Term Project Instructor: Nina Sharifi | [email protected]

Part 1: Compara�ve Climate Analysis for Alternate Si�ng

The first part of the project will consist of a two step analy�cal exercise, the subject of which will be a built project
of your choosing (from the ‘buildings bank’ provided by your instructors) and its surrounding spa�al and clima�c
environment of energy flows. Access to basic building documenta�on (e.g., plans, sec�ons, etc.) will be provided
to you, but you are encouraged to conduct addi�onal research for further documenta�on. Locate your case study
building and obtain the appropriate tmy3 and/or other reputable climate data (an approxima�on of loca�on can
be used if necessary). Consider the climate of your building’s loca�on, and then select an addi�onal, alternate
loca�on with a contras�ng climate in which to hypothe�cally situate the building. When si�ng the project in an
alternate, hypthe�cal site, the building must also be re-oriented rela�ve to North. That is, the south eleva�on in
the original si�ng cannot also be the south eleva�on in the new si�ng.

An example might be: Exis�ng Climate 1: Miami, USA (hot, humid) // Alternate Climate 2: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
(cold, dry) with north facade now facing west.

You are asked to model the reference building, and use this model to develop and present a diagnos�c analysis of
your building as it is sited in the context of each loca�on. Contextual factors of your building and its primary
(exis�ng) and secondary (hypothe�cal) sites, to be analyzed, drawn, diagrammed, discussed, and compared across
loca�ons, will include the following:

• Solar radia�on (site and building): sun path with building orienta�on and exposure, insola�on, indica�on of
la�tude/longitude or geography, general regional climate, etc. (plan and sec�on) (min 100 words) (20 pts)
• Overall Microclimate: prevailing winds (summer/winter), access to fresh air, noise pollu�on, vegeta�on,
effects of adjacent buildings on bioclima�c flows onsite (plan and sec�on) (min 100 words) (20 pts)
• Building envelope/enclosure: materials analysis, façade configura�ons, window & door loca�ons and sizing
(eleva�on and sec�on) (min 100 words) (20 pts)
• Predicted (reasoned, not simulated) thermal and visual comfort of main programmed spaces: qualita�ve
diagramming and discussion (representa�on of your choice) (min 100 words) (20 pts)

All submi�ed work should be clear, precise, and visually complete and well-presented. Qualita�ve discussion need
not be overly formal, but should be professionally and clearly wri�en, and should complement and support
informa�on being shown in drawings/diagrams. Successful integra�on of disparate visual elements is an important
facet of project communica�on, and will require early and effec�ve coordina�on among members of your team.
Raw data outputs from any so�ware will not be accepted; rather, students must synthesize data and produce
original visualiza�ons that clearly communicate dis�nguishing condi�ons of the climate context. (20 pts)