The atrium of the Engineering II building represents a unique space, with students passing through 24 hours a day for their studies and research projects.

With the goal of creating a “home-away-from-home” environment, University officials sought to renovate the building to be a place where students and faculty could feel comfortable and experience natural daylight, views and ventilation. Officials also wanted the atrium to be highly efficient, keeping carbon emissions and energy costs to a minimum.

With students and faculty occupying the building at all times of the day, officials were faced with a particularly difficult challenge: ventilating the atrium while maximizing the use of daylight to naturally light the space. A stringent temperature comfort range meant both daylighting and ventilation had to integrate flawlessly, as the minimum temperature could not drop below 66 degrees Fahrenheit and the maximum could not exceed 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

University officials enlisted Ambient Energy, a consulting and engineering firm specializing in sustainable technologies and building, for the renovation. Using IESVE, Ambient Energy engineers were able to test and verify the architectural and passive strategy concepts for the atrium before implementing them. Initially, wind and climate analysis gave a better understanding of how natural factors would impact the building. Analyses showed that because of varied wind direction, natural ventilation would rely predominantly on buoyancy instead of wind driven data.

By providing tangible data early in the schematic redesign process, IESVE provided designers and their clients with a way to test and verify their building efficiency theories before putting them into practice. This led to the effective utilization of skylights and natural ventilation to improve daylighting, cooling and energy efficiency in the atrium. Ambient Energy has been using IES’ software for several years and utilized its capabilities on many projects to prove concepts and radically reduce building energy consumption.

“VE for Engineers is one of the only tools that can provide integrated daylight, thermal and mixed-mode ventilation analysis in great detail, which allowed us to test the integration of all components across the year.”

Linda Morrison, Building Performance Team Leader,  Ambient Energy

Colorado State University - Daylight, Thermal and Mixed-mode Ventilation Modelling

Over the last 30+ years, IES has built a solid reputation as the leading global innovator in integrated performance-based analysis for the built environment.

The IES Virtual Environment (IESVE) is a powerful, in-depth suite of building performance analysis tools. It enables the design and operation of low/zero carbon, healthy and comfortable buildings. Whether working on a new build or renovation project, IESVE allows designers to test different options, identify best passive solutions, compare low-carbon & renewable technologies, and draw conclusions on energy use, CO2 emissions, occupant comfort, and much more.
There are various applications in the suite; each designed to provide sustainable analysis at levels suitable for different design team members and design stages. All utilize our Apache dynamic thermal simulation engine, and an integrated central data model. 

Building Energy Modeling (BEM) with the IES Virtual Environment software is the perfect industry design tool for electrification and decarbonization of the built environment. Various design strategies are available with decarbonization as an end goal, such as: passive design, energy conservation, energy efficiency, electrification, incorporating renewable energy technology, or energy storage.

From optimizing room and zone loads to detailed HVAC system and equipment sizing, IESVE HVAC software offers the most practical, efficient, and accurate tools available. IESVE can quickly and easily undertake CIBSE & ASHRAE heating and cooling loads calculations, with efficient inputs for 3D geometry, envelope, internal gains, external design conditions and location. Minimum ventilation requirements can be included, or local code minimum ventilation can be utilized. Reports can be generated in either spreadsheet or PDF format, and can be shared to help gain insights from in-depth results analysis, or iterate on building design. These calculations transition seamlessly into detailed HVAC system sizing and optimization.

IESVE can also be utilized for quick and easy CFD airflow simulation. An existing IESVE model can be used for early stage CFD simulations, without needing to import further data or export into other tools. MicroFlo-CFD performs ‘snapshot’ CFD simulation by importing boundary conditions from APACHE’s dynamic simulation, or allows manual boundary conditions to be added. Ventilation from passive sources (e.g. operable windows) or mechanical devices (e.g. diffusers) can be included in these simulations. MicroFlo-CFD can be utilized for a range of CFD use cases, such as: passive natural ventilation design, passive atrium design, data center design, hospital operating room design, HVAC design for occupant thermal comfort, external wind studies, or normal use ventilation of car parks.

There is also the option within IESVE to utilize Parametric Simulation. This feature empowers users to compare a large range of design possibilities, be it for a single-variant design study or a multi-parameter whole-building design perspective. The Parametric Simulation feature has access to a large number of model variables and is integrated into the full range of APACHE’s links (Solar, Daylight, Airflow, Loads/Sizing and HVAC Systems). Over a thousand permutations are possible with one model. 

With the IESVE software, you can undertake daylighting for LEED and BREEAM, electric lighting design, glare prediction, daylight harvesting, daylight autonomy, user-specified visualizations. IESVE can ensure good natural daylight and visual comfort, reduce lighting gains, and test how your lighting designs will look and perform. Daylight, sunlight and overshadowing analysis can be carried out, with results generated for climate-based daylight modeling and daylight autonomy. For lighting design, daylight harvesting and dimming control assessments can also be undertaken. All of this combined can help you meet the requirements of local codes and best practice guides. 

Complex solar shading calculations can also be undertaken within IESVE, to determine how solar rays pass through both external and internal openings.  The path of the sun is tracked across rooms and atriums into internal space allowing the exact location and impact of solar gain to be understood. Internal and external solar shading devices can be tested, along with assessing the shading or right to light impact of surrounding buildings and terrain. Any solar shading calculations can then inform Loads Calculations and Energy Simulations. 

IES also offers unrivalled interoperability with other CAD design and analysis tools. The smooth and robust two-way information exchange between IESVE and BIM platforms speeds up the design process and facilitates digital design. 

Virtual Environment (IESVE)

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We provide a wide range of comprehensive and integrated BIM services to meet our Client’s needs.

BIMWERX currently have 25 projects utilising ReviCheck to improve their services to their clients.

At BIMWERX, are committed to providing clients with the best possible services. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the key to improving the construction industry, and they are constantly looking for new ways to use BIM to deliver better results for clients. One of the ways that have been able to improve our services is by using ReviCheck. ReviCheck is a cloud-based software solution that helps construction teams ensure that they are always working with the latest versions of their drawings. This is essential for avoiding costly mistakes and delays. ReviCheck works by using QR codes to identify each drawing uniquely. 

BIMWERX: How ReviCheck Helps Us Provide Better Services to Our Clients

ReviCheck is a game-changer in construction document management. It seamlessly integrates QR code technology with Autodesk Revit, ensuring all stakeholders access the latest data. The problem of outdated drawings, which plagues construction sites with 25% of drawings being out of date, is solved through real-time document status checks using the ReviCheck mobile app.

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Autodesk Revit is a building information modeling (BIM) software used by architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, NEP engineers, designers, and contractors. 

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Colorado State University - Daylight, Thermal and Mixed-mode Ventilation Modelling

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