ARCH 653 - Building Information Modeling

1 Project Overview

For project 2 in ARCH 653, there are two different the parts. The first part we were able to choose. I choose to change the color of the curtain panels by sun path. The second part was new this semester, we were to use programs we previously used on a homework and adapt them to a new set of parameters. Figure 1 shows the original facade of the building.

Figure 1: Original Facade of the Building

2 Revit Dynamo (Visual Programming)

Part 1: Sun Path

In order for the curtain panels on the façade of my building to change according to the sun path I had to first, select all of the rectangular curtain panels by using the family type’s node and selecting the curtain panel family and then Family.Instance.ByFamilyType node to select all of the curtain panel families in the Revit file. I then created normal of outermost surface of each panel and I set the sun settings, and the location to New York, NY. Then I had to use the Vector.Dot node to calculate the angle between the panel surface and the sun direction. Since, the input value of the color range is between 0 and 1, I had to remap the calculating results of the vectors angle. After I ran the dynamo program, the curtain panel’s changed color according to the sun path. We can see the color change from figure 4 to figure 6.

Figure 2: Changing the color of curtain panels according to sun path

Figure 3: Changing the color of curtain panels according to sun path

Figure 4: Facade at 9 AM

Figure 5: Facade at 12:30 PM

Figure 6: Facade at 6 PM

Part 2: Parametric BIM-based Design Optimization

For the second part, we were to use exercise 3 and 4 from one of our previous homework's to create a conceptual mass for the San Francisco Airport. The parameters for the airport can been seen below in Figure 7.

Figure 8: Building Parameters

For exercise 3, we had to meet the target parameters manually by changing the parameters and viewing the results in a google spreadsheet. In order to get exercise 3 to work for the second part of the project I had to edit the Building Generator. First, I separated the two buildings by adding an input, spacingbtwbuildings, into the Building Generator. Then, I defined the site boundaries according to the parameters. I was also able to modify the Building Generator code to use Number of floors as a parameter rather than the floor to floor height.

Figure 9: Building Generator-Spacing Between Buildings

Figure 10: Building Generator-Site Boundary

Figure 11: Building Generator-Number of Floors

Figure 12: Activity 3 Conceptual Masses

We were to use exercise 4 to then optimize the conceptual masses automatically. However, I was not able to get exercise 4 to work. Using the modifications I had made to the Building Generator used in exercise 3, I then had to adjust the main file. However, as I was trying to adjust the functions, I did not completely understand the mapping of the subfunctions.

3 Project Video

1 Project Overview

One World Trade Center (1WTC) is in New York, NY. The One World trade center is commonly referred to as "Freedom Tower". It is the tallest building in the western hemisphere, and the sixth tallest in the world. Construction of 1WTC began in 2006 and was completed in 2014. The architectural firm who designed it is Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

Figure 1: One World Trade Center

(http://goo.gl/AjhRLb)

2 Modeling Process

2.1 Parametric Mass Model

For my parametric mass model, I created the model in four different parts. The base form and middle form were created using extrude. The base form has four isosceles triangles, one in each corner. The middle form begins with the square from the base form. There is a square rotated 45 degrees at the top that will be the roof. It is slightly smaller than the base square. In the middle there is a hexagon half way between level 2 and level 4 on level 3. Level 2 is at the bottom of the middle form, level 4 is at the top of the middle form. The last two forms are the ring sitting on top of the roof and the antenna. The ring and the antenna were both created using loft. The ring was created by first created a cylinder a radius set as a parameter. Then I created a small cylindering with a set parameter in the middle and voided the object. The antenna was created by having a circle at level 4 and then a smaller circle on level 6. Each form has prescribed parameters that can be changed under family type properties to adjust the size of the building. In Figure 1, below you can see the different parameters used.

Figure 2: Building Parameters

Figure 3: Parametric Mass Model

Figure 2: Hand Drawn Figure for Base Form

Figure 3: Hand Drawn Figure for Middle Form

Figure 4: Hand Drawn Figure for Form 3

Figure 5: Hand Drawn Figure for Form 4

2.2 Parametric Curtain Panel and Building Façade

I created a curtain panels for my project, it is a square panel with a glass bottom. You can see a picture of each of the figures below. Once I created the parametric curtain panel, I began creating the façade. This was done by dividing the surface and changing the number of U and V grids. I then assigned the curtain panels I created to divided surfaces.

Figure 6: Square Curtain Panel

Figure 8: Building Façade

2.3 Creating a BIM Project

Once I finished the façade of my model I imported the family into a project. From there I was able to create curtain panel walls, floors for the building, roof, etc. Then I began creating a interior layout for the 50th floor. I included interior walls, doors, and furniture. You can see a interior rendering below in section 5.