Wai Sem Morris is a UK registered Architect currently working for NBBJ-Shanghai. With over 10years of experience based in the UK , China and Hong Kong, she brings awareness of design technology and sustainability issues in order to pursue a better built environment from feasibility through to completion. Her experience includes award winning projects like Unilever House, London (KPF), and 5 Merchant Square, London (P+W). Her knowledge on CAD systems stems from her passion on computer games technology, including a year stint in creating a AAA game for BAM! Entertainment. Wai's presentation talks about how architects can utilize data and software technology to make the design of future buildings more sustainable and efficient.

1. Designing
More
Sustainable
Buildings
Using
the
right
data
and
so.ware
technology
Wai
Sem
Morris
Green
Drinks
Shanghai,
16
Oct
2014
wai
sem
morris
2014
nbbj

2. What
do
Architects
do?
We
design
buildings
–
when
it
is
built,
we
hope
to
make
a
beDer
world.
As
a
society
we
want
to
make
our
lives
beDer
than
before,
but
to
do
that
we
have
over
consumed
our
natural
resource
to
sustain
our
current
habit.
To
build
a
beDer
future
we
must
become
more
sustainable
in
order
to
maintain
our
current
living
standard.
wai
sem
morris
2014
nbbj

3. The
sustainable
buildings
of
the
past:
Does
not
mean
beDer
living
condiKon
for
modern
society.
We
want
a
comfortable
and
safe
environment.
wai
sem
morris
2014
nbbj

4. To
make
an
environment
more
comfortable
current
buildings
consumes
much
of
the
energy
today:
Key
elements
for
comfortable
buildings:
Thermal,
Visual,
AcousKc,
Safety
&
Wellbeing
Research
and
Data
shows
it.
Research
has
illustrated
that
we
like
a
certain
temperature
range.
HolisKcally,
buildings
produce
about
1/3
of
global
greenhouse
gases.
Building
energy
use
is
related
to
climate:
UK
uses
more
for
heaKng
due
to
the
cold
weather.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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5. Over
consumpKon,
especially
non
renewable
energy
is
having
an
adverse
effect
on
our
planet.
But
why
does
it
maDer
to
an
Architect
and
what
can
we
do
to
help
our
current
situaKon?
wai
sem
morris
2014
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6. Even
in
China,
although
energy
consumpKon
is
sKll
lower
per
person
than
in
USA.
Although
the
McKinsey
&
Company
report
was
produced
back
in
2009,
it
has
many
interesKng
data
and
suggesKons
in
making
China
Greener.
Reports
shows
that
we
should
all
lower
energy
use;
including
within
a
building
and
the
process
of
construcKon.
But
how
do
we
track
and
prove
the
improvement?
wai
sem
morris
2014
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7. AIA
IniKaKves:
It
is
assumed
that
by
2030
the
other
40%
of
energy
is
produced
by
a
carbon
neutral
source,
therefore
making
buildings
carbon
neutral.
NBBJ
iniKaKve
in
finding
the
baseline,
and
tracking
EUI
(Energy
Use
Intensity)for
the
2030
Challenge.
Did
you
know
the
AIA
is
an
advocate
of
the
2030
challenge,
which
members
are
encourage
to
design
all
buildings
so
that
there
is
a
60%
reducKon
in
EUI
by
year
2030.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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8. NBBJ
Process:
In
house
protocols
helps
us
keep
track
of
our
building
design.
Lack
of
client
interest
and
specificaKon
transparency
hinders
our
approach
in
China.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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9. Learning
from
the
past:
How
do
we
esKmate
our
design?
The
target.
The
baseline
based
on
typical
similar
buildings.
Comparing
data
and
knowing
current
typical
EUI.
Benchmarking
what
we
have
now
to
make
a
beDer
future.
–
But
these
are
based
on
US
staKsKcs.
wai
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morris
2014
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10. So
what
makes
a
building
more
sustainable?
Sustainable
buildings
includes
many
elements;
but
knowing
how
to
reduce
energy
use
is
one
of
the
key
factors.
Passive
Design
is
one
of
the
key
concept
we
embrace:
it
saves
energy
and
money
in
the
long
run.
wai
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morris
2014
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11. Understanding
Passive
Design
Check
list:
LocaKon:
LaKtude,
Longitude,
AlKtude,
Time
zone
Check
if
some
data
is
missing
(
Rainfall,
Wind,
Illuminance)
Compare
data
from
different
sources
Compare
data
with
climate
descripKon
in
text
Available
Weather
Data:
EERE
website
(Energy
Efficiency
&
Renewable
Energy)
Chinese
Standard
Weather
Data
(CD
of
a
book)
Autodesk
Climate
Database
(Revit/GBS/Vasari)
China
Meteorological
Data
Sharing
Service
System
NaKonal
ClimaKc
Data
Center
Watch
out
for
data
discrepancies
within
a
small
region.
The
need
to
uKlizing
the
natural
elements:
The
Weather,
nature
and
physics.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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12. Bio-­‐climate
Analysis
Data
can
improve
design.
WriDen
reports
from
those
typical
climate
scenarios
are
helpful
for
prioriKzing
design
ideas.
Weather
Tool
:
Excel,
Climate
Consultant,
Ecotect,
Green
Building
Studio
(GBS)
,
Vasari,
Revit
,
IES
VE
Where
to
get
the
data
and
how
to
interpret
them
can
make
a
building
more
passive.
From
numbers
to
graphs
can
be
produced,
and
they
can
be
easier
to
visualize
and
understand.
wai
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morris
2014
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13. Free
websites
that
helps
use
translate
the
weather
files:
CLIMATE
CONSULTANT
The
shared
knowledge
helps
us
make
beDer
decisions
on
our
iniKal
designs.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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14. Sohware
allows
us
to
make
more
detailed
analysis
including:
ECOTECT
Ecotect
has
been
a
strong
tool
for
daylight
studies.
Most
impressive
has
been
they
way
it
can
produce
easy
to
understand
informaKve
illustraKons.
Knowing
the
right
tools
for
the
right
jobs
is
important:
Also
asking
the
right
expert
to
do
the
analysis
is
always
more
effecKve.
AddiKonal
plugins
can
make
photo
realisKc
analyKcal
images.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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15. Other
analysis
sohware
that
you
may
be
interest
in:
REVIT
Autodesk
360,
with
its
cloud
based
analysis
and
renderings
has
allowed
us
to
gauge
if
our
design
is
heading
the
right
direcKon.
(But
it
doesn’t
work
all
the
Kme
if
the
model
is
built
incorrectly.)
It
is
the
computaKonal
power
that
is
allowing
us
to
make
sure
the
design
is
more
efficient
and
sustainable
before
it
is
even
built.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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16. Sohware
tesKng
and
seeing
what
they
are
good
for:
VASARI
The
above
analysis
was
produced
with
Falcon,
which
is
now
running
within
Vasari.
It’s
been
suitable
with
wind
direcKon
and
velocity
analysis.
The
solar
radiaKon
feature
is
not
as
useful.
Wind
analysis
helps
us
make
microclimate
more
comfortable
and
reduce
structural
wind
load.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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17. More
detailed
analysis
to
prove
a
theory:
AUTODESK
–
360
(GBD)
MONTHLY DIURNAL AVERAGES - Karamay, CHN
°C W / m²
40 1.0k
30 0.8k
20 0.6k
10 0.4k
0 0.2k
-10 0.0k
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
DAILY CONDIT IONS - 1st January (1)
°C W / m²
40 1.0k
30 0.8k
20 0.6k
10 0.4k
0 0.2k
-10 0.0k
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
LEGEND
Comfo rt: T he rma l Ne utra lity
T emperature
Rel.Humidity
D irect Solar
D iffuse Solar
W ind Speed Clo ud Cove r
Running
CFD
(ComputaKonal
Fluid
Dynamics)
with
GBD
(Green
Building
Design),
proved
that
this
underground
labyrinth
air
movement
theory
worked.
The
analysis
showed
how
it
would
work
and
to
what
extent
it
would
reduce
heaKng
cooling
and
air
supply
mechanical
load.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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18. More
detailed
analysis
to
prove
a
theory:
THE
FEEDBACK
DATA
Results
from
Run
with
Outside
Air
Temperature
at
30
F
wai
sem
morris
2014
nbbj
Results
from
Ini4al
Run
with
Outside
Air
Temperature
at
50
F
Level
2
-­‐
Supply
Level
2
-­‐
Exhaust
Opening
Area
from
stair
3.458
m2
Opening
Area
into
stair
3.458
m2
Volumetric
Flowrate
4787.6
h3/min
Volumetric
Flowrate
4669.44
h3/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
128.624
h/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
125.45
h/min
Pressure
-­‐6.08906
Pa
Pressure
-­‐5.85345
Pa
Temperature
60.3632
Fahrenheit
Temperature
66.8855
Fahrenheit
Level
3
-­‐
Supply
Level
3
-­‐
Exhaust
Opening
Area
from
stair
5.18699
m2
Opening
Area
into
stair
5.18699
m2
Volumetric
Flowrate
3057.11
h3/min
Volumetric
Flowrate
3016.89
h3/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
54.7553
h/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
54.0348
h/min
Pressure
-­‐4.96898
Pa
Pressure
-­‐4.44406
Pa
Temperature
60.4605
Fahrenheit
Temperature
66.3478
Fahrenheit
Level
4
-­‐
Supply
Level
4
-­‐
Exhaust
Opening
Area
from
stair
6.9156
m2
Opening
Area
into
stair
6.9156
m2
Volumetric
Flowrate
1551.11
h3/min
Volumetric
Flowrate
1483.41
h3/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
20.8373
h/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
19.9279
h/min
Pressure
-­‐3.81145
Pa
Pressure
-­‐3.27456
Pa
Temperature
60.9972
Fahrenheit
Temperature
65.7569
Fahrenheit
Level
2
-­‐
Supply
Level
2
-­‐
Exhaust
Opening
Area
from
stair
3.458
m2
Opening
Area
into
stair
3.458
m2
Volumetric
Flowrate
6278.28
h3/min
Volumetric
Flowrate
6374.38
h3/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
168.673
h/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
171.255
h/min
Temperature
54.9524
Fahrenheit
Temperature
62.1835
Fahrenheit
Level
3
-­‐
Supply
Level
3
-­‐
Exhaust
Opening
Area
from
stair
5.18699
m2
Opening
Area
into
stair
5.18699
m2
Volumetric
Flowrate
4160.07
h3/min
Volumetric
Flowrate
4197.68
h3/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
74.51
h/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
75.1835
h/min
Temperature
54.9463
Fahrenheit
Temperature
62.2019
Fahrenheit
Level
4
-­‐
Supply
Level
4
-­‐
Exhaust
Opening
Area
from
stair
6.9156
m2
Opening
Area
into
stair
6.9156
m2
Volumetric
Flowrate
3615.6
h3/min
Volumetric
Flowrate
3649.83
h3/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
48.5714
h/min
Vy-­‐Velocity
49.0313
h/min
Temperature
55.6262
Fahrenheit
Temperature
65.4828
Fahrenheit
The
diagram
indicates
the
seasonal
condiKons
when
the
Stack
system
may
be
able
to
operate
based
on
the
outdoor
condiKons,
both
in
heated
and
passive
mode.
It
indicates
that
as
many
as
4176
hours
could
be
served
by
this
system
–
given
there
are
8760
hours
in
the
year,
the
system
could
be
operable
up
to
47%
of
the
year.

19. Other
more
powerful
and
accurate
analysis
tools:
IES-­‐VE
More
suitable
for
expert
mechanical
engineers
due
to
Kme
and
detailed
input
that
is
required.
Useful
to
know
its
capability.
SomeKmes
sohware
tools
can
be
too
Kme
consuming
for
Architects
to
make
good
design
judgment.
IES-­‐VE
is
useful
for
its
iniKal
climate
analysis
and
suggesKons,
but
proved
too
Kme
consuming
to
iniKate
other
analysis
to
make
a
beDer
design.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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20. New
more
intuiKve
sohware
aimed
for
Architects:
SEFAIRA
This
is
the
latest
tool
we
are
tesKng
out:
Sefaira
is
promising
with
its
instant
feedback
analysis
and
curve
adjustment
graph
to
illustrate
the
different
degree
of
effecKveness
in
design
variables.
But
the
need
for
VPN
due
to
google
map,
makes
it
more
complicated
to
be
used
in
China.
Also
unable
to
handle
with
complex
design
makes
it
limiKng.
Development
in
which
virtual
models
are
evaluated
is
making
it
easier
for
us
to
visualize
the
efficiency
we
are
making
to
the
buildings.
wai
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morris
2014
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21. Other
computaKonal
ideas
that
improves
efficiency:
GRASSHOPPER
Many
of
3D
modelling
is
done
through
Rhino,
and
Grasshopper
allows
us
to
uKlize
computaKonal
design
in
order
for
us
to
visualize
variables
–
making
analysis
quicker.
DIVA
LADYBUG
AND
HONEYBEE
Good
for
comparing
different
design
–
but
accuracy
is
sKll
quesKonable.
wai
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morris
2014
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22. Other
computaKonal
ideas
that
improves
efficiency:
INHOUSE
TOOLS
Making
a
building
more
efficient,
not
only
saves
cost;
but
can
also
save
material
and
energy.
Unique
design
calls
for
unique
analysis
tools.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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23. Other
computaKonal
ideas
that
improves
efficiency:
FURTHER
STUDIES
BY
EXPERTS
wai
sem
morris
2014
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SimulaKon
on
Façade
performance,
natural
venKlaKon
strategy,
has
allowed
this
building
achieve
China
2
Star
raKng.

24. These
analysis
and
ideas
are
all
possible
through
BIM
This
is
a
very
broad
topic,
to
summarize:
BIM
(Building
InformaKon
Modelling)-­‐
allows
us
to
analysis
the
building
virtually
–
and
to
improve
the
efficiency
of
the
building
in
the
real
world.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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25. The
cloud
is
making
beDer
design
more
instantaneous,
and
more
collaboraKve.
By
uKlizing
beDer
compuKng
power,
we
can
make
design
developments
quicker
for
a
more
sustainable
building.
Development
and
evoluKon
of
design
is
realized
and
raKonalized
more
effecKvely.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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26. Networked
infrastructure
that
shares
these
data.
Data
can
be
analyzed
and
knowing
how
to
interpret
them
to
make
buildings
and
infrastructure
more
efficient.
All
this
can
inform
Architects
on
how
to
design
beDer,
more
sustainable
spaces.
Good
basis
for
design
is
learning
from
feedback,
this
is
just
a
more
scienKfic
way
of
gerng
that
feedback
–
and
quicker.
Can
make
Urban
Design
more
intuiKve.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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27. Even
the
small
scale
web
based
shared
knowledge
holds
interesKng
issues
to
make
a
building
more
sustainable.
From
large
scale
of
urban
planning
to
a
smaller
scale
of
material
selecKon.
Walk
Score:
promoKng
good
urban
environments.
GIGA:
promoKng
sustainable
materials.
U-­‐wert:
promoKng
good
external
walls.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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28. Learning
from
Computer
Games
AI
(ArKficial
Intelligence),
it
can
inform
us
on
how
to
make
a
beDer
environment.
SIM
city
has
become
educaKonal,
and
city
planners
can
learn
from
the
coding
on
some
of
the
basis
for
good
urban
environment.
Computer
coding
and
understanding
mathemaKcal
formulas
has
allowed
us
to
predict
the
future.
wai
sem
morris
2014
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29. So,
What
do
Architects
do?
Technology,
especially
sohware
has
allowed
us
to
improve
and
prove
our
design
ideas
before
it
is
built,
in
order
for
us
to
build
a
beDer
environment
for
the
future.
Maybe
one
day
buildings
will
design
itself
through
game
play.
wai
sem
morris
2014
nbbj

30. Thank
you
Feel
free
to
contact
me:
wmorris@nbbj.com
I’m
constantly
learning,
and
shared
knowledge
can
make
a
beDer
and
more
environmentally
sustainable
world.
We
need
to
build
a
beDer
future
together,
and
I’m
more
than
happy
to
share
my
knowledge.
wai
sem
morris
2014
nbbj