Artificial Intelligence in Performance-Driven Design

5Artificial Intelligence in Building Enclosure Performance Optimization: Frameworks, Methods, and Tools

Farshad Kheiri

School of Architecture, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA

Building Envelope and Performance

A building envelope refers to the parts of a building that act as barriers between the interior and exterior environments. Building envelope components can include external walls, windows, skylights, doors, and floors. The configurations and the properties of a building envelope play a crucial role in multiple aspects, including the environmental performance of a building, as well as other criteria, such as esthetics.

One of the primary considerations of a building envelope is its environmental impact. The main aspects of the environmental performance of a building influenced by envelope design include thermal comfort, energy efficiency, daylighting, visual connection to the outdoors, acoustics, indoor air quality, and in general, the life cycle impact of the design. Figure 5.1 illustrates building attributes that impact building environmental performance. The design of a building envelope requires the analysis of the conditions and the formulation of the design problem, the design synthesis through generating solutions, and the evaluation of design alternatives. Building envelope attributes in these alternatives range from the geometrical features and configurations to the material properties. Incorporating sustainable criteria in buildings ...