This document provides a summary of Francisco Farias's education, awards, research experience, professional experience, and dissertation. Some key points:
- Farias has a PhD from Texas A&M University in Sustainable Design, as well as architecture licenses from Universidad de Chile.
- His research has included projects on building information modeling (BIM) and building energy simulation funded by grants totaling over $260,000.
- Professionally, he has over 10 years of experience in architecture firms in the UK, US, and Chile, specializing in BIM implementation, sustainability, and project management.
- His doctoral dissertation proposed a design process for sustainability (DEPROSU
1. Francisco Farias
mobile: 07552060101 asintoras@gmail.com
education PhD : Texas A&M University 2008 - 2013
Contemporary Strategies for Sustainable Design
Architect Lic.: Universidad de Chile (equiv. Part III) 1999 - 2000
Bachelor’s Degree: Universidad de Chile 1994 - 1998
awards/fellowships Wilson-Doche Architecture Scholarship 2009
Financial aid of US$3,250.00 by the Texas Architectural Foundation.
Preston Geren Scholarship 2011
US$1,000.00 for demonstrated ability both in architectural design and
technical knowledge of materials and methods.
Texas A&M Dissertation Fellowship 2011 - 2012
Fellowship of US$15,000.00 for 1 academic year, Texas A&M University.
research projects ASHRAE RP1468 Grant Project: Development of a Reference Building
Information Model (BIM) for Thermal Model Compliance Testing. I was
an assistant researcher developing thermal models and BIM models to
professors Jeff Haberl, Mark Clayton and Wei Yan. Total prize:
US$175,311.00.
grants Horizontal Hybrid Solar Light Pipe - EPA P3 Grant Project 2010 I was
the student leader of the group, under Professor Liliana Beltrán. Total
prize: US$85,000.00.
professional experience
“Kay Elliott Architects” (http://www.kayelliott.co.uk), Part II Architectural Assistant – BIM Adviser
05/2015-Present
I am part of the BIM Group and am responsible for overseeing the BIM process and developing the new
templates and standards for BIM Level 2 and BS-1192 compliance. I am also managing our BIM library,
developing training material and creating content to improve the design workflow for our specific
projects. I have been involved with residential design, as well as with projects from the entertainment
sector.
1. – Panorama House (Planning application stage): design of two luxury
houses in Torquay, Devon. I was in charge of developing the drawings
and collaborating with the design. Client: Peter Cliff
2. – Paris Sea Life – Penguin Exhibition. I am in charge of developing the
3d model and drawings for construction. Client: Merlin Entertainment.
3. – Sidney Sea Life – Penguin Exhibition. I am coordinating BIM models
between the disciplines involved from Australia and the UK, who are
designing the project for construction. Client: Merlin Entertainment.
2. 4. – Madame Tussauds, Nashville-Tennessee. I am in charge of modelling
the most complex parts of the project and developing drawings for
Quantity Surveyors. Client: Merlin Entertainment.
5. –Legoland Discovery Centre – New Jersey. Adapting an existing car
parking to host a new Legoland.
6. –TOM, Berlin. A new branch of entertainment showing miniatures of
significant parts of Berlin throughout the history.
7. – Amazing Creations, Shanghai, China. Re-designing part of an existing
Beluga Show Stadium.
8.- –Legoland Discovery Centre, San Antonio.
9. –Legoland Discovery Centre, Dallas.
“Stride Treglown” (http://stridetreglown.com), Part II Architectural Assistant 12/2013 – Present
I am part of the BIM Group as well as the Sustainability Group at Stride Treglown-Bristol. I have
collaborated in the following projects:
1. – I am developing, together with the Head of Human Resources, a
Research and Development Group within Stride Treglown to elevate the
intellectual profile of the company and collaborate on different
endeavours. There are 5 areas of potential focus: (a) evidence based BIM
(outcome focussed), (b) Sustainability (within BIM); (c) Usability (e.g.
through Post occupancy evaluation and optimisation); (d) Collaboration
(soft focus); and (e) Client and stakeholder engagement. The company’s
involvement would be as Research Leader, Collaborator, Sponsor and
Stakeholder. The proposal has been approved by the Board of Directors.
2. – Hampshire Critical Treatment Hospital (RIBA stage 3): after my
successful participation on a BIM level 2 project (FBL-UWE), I have been
invited to be a part of the design team for a £200 million critical
treatment hospital to be located in Hampshire. I have been assigned as
the BIM Model Manager for this BIM level 2 project, where Stride
Treglown will be in charge of the overall delivery and Shell&Core, while
Hassell Studio is in charge of the concept design and interiors. Client:
NHS Trust
3. – Faculty of Business and Law (FBL-UWE): £50 million BIM level 2
project – the first of its kind for Stride Treglown. I became involved in
this project from RIBA stage 2 and was in charge of developing the Revit
model in accordance with the new company’s template and standard
procedures, developing exterior visualizations for the planning
application and developing details for the Tender process. The project
will start construction in 2015. Client: University of West England.
4. – 21A Southgate Street (planning application stage): design scheme
for a shop in the ground floor and five studio/flats in the first, second
and third floor. The building is located in a conservation area surrounded
by listed buildings in Winchester. Client: Questmap Ltd.
3. 5. – Hammer & Tongs Residential (planning application stage): design
scheme of five one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat in a
residential area. Client: Questmap Ltd.
6. – Winton Primary School (planning stage): I have collaborated in the
design of an 840 pupil Primary School in Bournemouth. In particular, I
unified and designed a complex roof system comprised of 3 different
building shapes, collaborated in the design of the layout in the new
extension, including the layout of a kitchen, bathroom, a sports room,
drama room, music room and three classrooms. I also developed part of
the planning application plans. Client: Bournemouth Borough Council.
7. – Cando House: I have collaborated in the renovation of a 1600 m2
office building in Southampton, Hampshire. I was in charge of
developing the 3D Revit model, creating visualizations, doors
schedules/legends, construction detailing of the stair in the
atrium/lobby and creating ceiling plans. The project is currently under
construction. Client: Condor Office Solutions.
8. – City Cruise Terminal, Phase 5: I am collaborating in the design
scheme of an extension and renovation (over 6,000 m2
) for the City
Cruise Terminal in Southampton. The scheme includes new parking
facilities, Staff facilities and public areas. Client: ABP
9. – Stroud Primary School: development of the Revit model for
visualization.
10. – Enterprise Pavilion Building: development of the Revit model for a
feasibility study. Client: Arts University Bournemouth.
“Terán & Associados” Architects (http://teranarquitectos.cl/index.html), 05/2005 – 07/2007 During
the period from 2001 to 2007, my work in Chile included being responsible for architectural plans,
construction details, site visits, coordination and visualization (renderings), as well as developing design
schemes for projects number 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
1. – Puerto Montt’s Central Train Station (built)
2. – Sectional Plan “La Paloma”- Puerto Montt.
3. – Gerdau-Aza Gymnasium (built)
4. – Boston Bank N.A. Area Office (built)
5. – Valdivia’s Central Train Station (specification stage)
6. – Gerdau-Aza Office Building (design competition)
7. – “Las Hojas” House (built)
8. – Tecnoequipos S.A. Industrial Complex (specification stage)
9. – Interior Design of a Commercial Office in “Mall Plaza La Serena”
(built).
“Undurraga & Devés” Architects (www.undurragadeves.cl), 08/2003 – 05/2005
I was in charge of architectural plans, construction details and visualization (renderings).
1. – “Plaza de la Ciudadanía” (I, II y III Stages, developing perspectives
views and architectural plans)
4. 2. – Simonetti Office Building (architectural and detail plans)
3. – Duoc San Carlos de Apoquindo Extension (collaborating on the
development of detail plans)
4. – La Moneda Asset Offices: Interior design of a second floor extension,
in collaboration with Orlando Echeberrygaray, architect.
“Bowen y Trentini” Architects 05/2003 – 07/2003
I participated as an assistant architect developing architectural and detail plans and visualizations to the
following projects:
1. – a Pre-school and complementary facilities for Chilectra Stadium
2. – design of two private residences
3. – “as-built” plans for two office buildings.
Free-Lance Architect, 07/2002 – 03/2003 I
developed 3D models and perspectives development plans. I also have participated in design
competitions, such as Habitar XXI and Philips Illumination Contest and collaborating as an assistant
architect to the following offices:
1. – Bowen y Trentini: I developed “as-built” plans for an office Building
2. – Crisosto Arquitectos: I developed architectural plans for a school
project in the south of Chile
3. – Chavarri, Energici y Busquets: I participated in a design competition
for a school project.
“Fuenzalida & Rosende Arquitectos Asociados” 12/2001 – 06/2002 I
developed architectural and detail plans for:
1. – Inacap*-Iquique
2. – Inacap*-Copiapó (*INACAP is a Professional Institute, with
subsidiaries in the Chilean cities of Iquique and Copiapó)
3. – a residential building in Temuco, south of Chile.
Free-lance architect, 01/2001 – 12/2001 I
collaborated with the following offices and projects:
1. – Aiquina Ltda.: I developed architectural plans for a Winery company
in Mendoza –Argentina;
2. – Crisosto Arquitectos: I developed architectural plans for two school
projects in the south of Chile;
3. – 65m2 residence extension in Santiago, Chile, where I was the
architect in charge.
research and teaching assistant experience
Lecturer, Texas A&M University 07/2012- 08/2012
Research Assistant, Texas A&M U. 01/2010- 08/2011
6. Mark J. Clayton, F. Farias, G. Luhan, A. Kiviniemi, T. Kocaturk. (2013). eCAADe 2013 Computation and
Performance. Conference at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, where I was the BIM-
sustainability expert of a workshop on September 17th, 2013.
Haliburton, J., Clayton, M., Ozener, O. Farías, F. & Jeong, W. (2010). Parametric Modelling and BIM:
Innovative Design Education for Integrated Building Practices. ACADIAregional 2011. Presented at
the ACADIA Regional 2011: Parametricism (SPC), ACADIA.
Clayton, M. J., Ozener, O., Haliburton, J., & Farías, F. (2010). Illuminating the Design. eCAADe (pp. 493–
498). Presented at the 28th eCAADe, Zurich, Switzerland: eCAADe.
Clayton, M. J., Ozener, O., Haliburton, J., & Farías, F. (2010). Towards Studio 21: Experiments in Design
Education Using BIM. SIGraDI 2010 (pp. 43–46). Presented at the SIGraDi 2010 Proceedings of the
14th Congress of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics, Bogotá, Colombia.
Beltrán, L., & Farías, F. (2009). Assessment of Daylight Qualities in Sustainable Buildings. ISES 2009.
Presented at the ISES Solar World Congress 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa: ISES.
summary of my doctoral dissertation
Scholars and practitioners have highlighted the role of Integrated Design
Process (IDP), Building Information Model (BIM) and Building Energy
Simulation (BES) in the design process for sustainable design. However,
currently there is no consensus about a holistic process that deals with
all these concepts simultaneously. In my dissertation I present a
theoretical design model for sustainability, with an emphasis on the
synergistic effect of using BIM, BES and IDP. I selected and interviewed
six offices based upon their commitment to sustainable design and
influence in the design of high performance buildings as identified by
the press. These firms presented their perceptions of the influence of
BIM, BES, and IDP. The results show that a generalization of sustainable
design processes is possible. I created a design process for sustainability
(DEPROSU) collecting best practices from data gathered from the
interviews and the critical literature review. Secondary contributions
show that BIM, IDP and BES have a synergistic effect in sustainable
design methods, and that the human resource profile from these firms
has evolved towards multi-skilled professionals knowledgeable in BES,
BIM, parametric design, sustainability and construction processes. The
DEPROSU model can potentially be validated as protocols or standards
for sustainable design, providing architectural design practices with
concrete patterns for improvement and or validation of their design
methods. A paper about DEPROSU was recently accepted as a full paper
for the “5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Information
Technology (SEIT-2015)”.
7. Mark J. Clayton, F. Farias, G. Luhan, A. Kiviniemi, T. Kocaturk. (2013). eCAADe 2013 Computation and
Performance. Conference at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, where I was the BIM-
sustainability expert of a workshop on September 17th, 2013.
Haliburton, J., Clayton, M., Ozener, O. Farías, F. & Jeong, W. (2010). Parametric Modelling and BIM:
Innovative Design Education for Integrated Building Practices. ACADIAregional 2011. Presented at
the ACADIA Regional 2011: Parametricism (SPC), ACADIA.
Clayton, M. J., Ozener, O., Haliburton, J., & Farías, F. (2010). Illuminating the Design. eCAADe (pp. 493–
498). Presented at the 28th eCAADe, Zurich, Switzerland: eCAADe.
Clayton, M. J., Ozener, O., Haliburton, J., & Farías, F. (2010). Towards Studio 21: Experiments in Design
Education Using BIM. SIGraDI 2010 (pp. 43–46). Presented at the SIGraDi 2010 Proceedings of the
14th Congress of the Iberoamerican Society of Digital Graphics, Bogotá, Colombia.
Beltrán, L., & Farías, F. (2009). Assessment of Daylight Qualities in Sustainable Buildings. ISES 2009.
Presented at the ISES Solar World Congress 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa: ISES.
summary of my doctoral dissertation
Scholars and practitioners have highlighted the role of Integrated Design
Process (IDP), Building Information Model (BIM) and Building Energy
Simulation (BES) in the design process for sustainable design. However,
currently there is no consensus about a holistic process that deals with
all these concepts simultaneously. In my dissertation I present a
theoretical design model for sustainability, with an emphasis on the
synergistic effect of using BIM, BES and IDP. I selected and interviewed
six offices based upon their commitment to sustainable design and
influence in the design of high performance buildings as identified by
the press. These firms presented their perceptions of the influence of
BIM, BES, and IDP. The results show that a generalization of sustainable
design processes is possible. I created a design process for sustainability
(DEPROSU) collecting best practices from data gathered from the
interviews and the critical literature review. Secondary contributions
show that BIM, IDP and BES have a synergistic effect in sustainable
design methods, and that the human resource profile from these firms
has evolved towards multi-skilled professionals knowledgeable in BES,
BIM, parametric design, sustainability and construction processes. The
DEPROSU model can potentially be validated as protocols or standards
for sustainable design, providing architectural design practices with
concrete patterns for improvement and or validation of their design
methods. A paper about DEPROSU was recently accepted as a full paper
for the “5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Information
Technology (SEIT-2015)”.
