RWDI•habItat

www.rwdihabitat.comwhereclimatemeetsdesign

RWDI•Habitat is a cluster of capabilities within RWDI involved in creating spaces for people – indoor and out.

� We engineer the built environment to optimize comfort for people.

� We integrate climate aware strategies into building and masterplanning schemes.

� We use our experience and expertise in CFD, wind tunnel, solar (e.g. glare, daylighting) and other unique modeling capabilities.

� We apply a scientific approach.

� We deal with all elements of weather.

� We have project experience on all seven continents, in all climate types addressing passive and active means of working with nature.

� We work at all scales, from a small room in a building through to global climate modeling.

� We can help projects achieve recognition through 3rd party certification(s).

� We can demonstrate continuous progress towards compliance with

AIA 2030 challenge.

We have enGineerinG exPertiSe in:

Wind and temperature

� Natural ventilation

� Outdoor ventilation

� Microclimate assessment

� Massing optimization for air quality

� Stack effect

� Solar chimneys and wind towers

� Thermal comfort

� Indoor ventilation

� Indoor pollutant control

Transport of Particles

� Rain infiltration

� Sand and dust ingress

� Snow drifting

Sun

� District daylight potential assessment

� Glare diagnosis and mitigation

� Indoor daylighting analysis

� Solar shading

Meteorology

� Assessment of opportunities and constraints for climate

� Heat island

� Building site-specific meteorological data sets.

Noise & Vibration Effects

� Passive mitigation and control of noise impacts

� Strategies to reduce noise generation

energy

� Energy opportunities charrette

� Building energy modeling

� Façade optimization

� Compliance energy modeling

� Renewable / alternative energy

Where climate meets design

SuPPort for CliMate aWare deSiGnThe RWDI•Habitat team works more like a design

studio. We are nimble, innovative and can leverage a

range of experience and skills to a design challenge.

We provide quick screening assessments and

consultation in all our technical areas as well as detailed

modeling for proof of concept as design progresses.

the rWdi•haBitat differenCeBuilding systems, performance and the occupant

experience are all interrelated. The breadth of knowledge

and depth of experience our team brings to each

assignment allows us to take a holistic, whole building

approach to problem solving. For example, the

establishment of a window-to-wall ratio for a building

facade has implication to energy use, acoustics, daylight,

views and thermal comfort. Our tool set and experience

allows us to provide quick feedback or an in-depth

analysis with respect to each of these impact areas

ensuring a holistically considered solution.

No matter a projects scale or goals and objectives we

are able to create a custom service offering to meet

your needs. Our combined knowledge of green building

certification tools and high performance engineering

skills uniquely positions us to work in an integrated

fashion with project teams to not only identify problems

but to also help develop solutions.

Image above courtesy of Architects: Paul Laurendeau & François Beauchesne in joint venture. Front cover image courtesy of Gensler.

Green BuildinG CertifiCation Green building certification tools provide third party recognition

for the implementation of planning, design, construction and

operational best practices. The RWDI•Habitat team brings

a depth of experience with tools such as: LEED, Estidama,

BREEAM, the Toronto Green Development Standard, amongst

others. We leverage this experience to make the certification

process a value added experience for all project stakeholders.

PerforManCe enGineerinGOur approach to high performance goes much deeper

than pursuit of credits or points available through

green building certification tools. From project

conception through to operation we leverage our

tool belt of high performance engineering skills and

experience to help create better better buildings.

Sustainability Charrette

Integrated Design Support

SD Assessment Report

Sustainability Workshop

Updated Scorecards

Green Building Specfications

DD Assessment Report

Design Documentation

Integrated Design Support

Specifications Review

Contractor Coordination

Site Reviews

Shop Drawing Reviews

Construction Documentation Request

Submit for Certification

Brainstorming Options

Experienced Based Advice

Screening Calculations

Preliminary Modeling

Detailed Simulations

Wind Tunnel Testing

Drawing Reviews

Construction Verification

Commissioning

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Where We've Worked

Antarctic Bases

Dulles Aiport

Lotte Super Tall

KAUST

Our Approach

The achievement of a green building

certification requires detailed

documentation to confirm that

environmental best practices have

in fact been implemented. It is our

experience that when projects are

poorly managed and get 'bogged'

down with documentation the value

proposition presented by pursuing a

certification can quickly erode. It is

with this experience in mind that we

developed our innovation management

tool VAULT.

vaultVAULT allows us to very efficiently

track all documentation that is

required to achieve certification

and quickly produce scorecards

and assessment reports. Ultimately,

VAULT streamlines the certification

process and associated documentation

allowing us to focus our efforts on

the creation of a sustainable building,

whilst providing our clients continued

assurance that their project is on-track

towards achievement of certification.

vault - CaSe Study:

On the Elementary Teacher’s

Federation of Ontario, 84,000 sq.

ft., new headquarters building,

we implemented VAULT, and as

a result were able to submit for

LEED Certification review 2 weeks

following substantial completion

and were awarded LEED Platinum

certification in less than 5 months.

High Performance meets Certification

Above: Daylighting interior (Image courtesy of Gensler); Daylighting, Natural ventilation,Power generation

Green BuildinG CertifiCation

virtual WindTM (VW) A wind diagnosis tool that rapidly simulates wind

conditions around single buildings or cities.

eCliPSe (Solar Analysis)This solar modelling tool permits RWDI to assess the full solar

climate for any sized development. The solar climate, including

glare, daylighting and renewable energy potential, is simulated

using a custom radiation solver. This same code can provide initial

estimates of indoor daylighting performance early in building design.

Hence first estimates of daylighting can be performed at city scales.

oaSiS (Thermal Comfort)A tool that permits us to simulate the comfort conditions

in urban environments and semi-outdoor spaces, including

heat island, passive and active cooling methods.

virtual CliMate 360 (VC360) Combining the results of Eclipse, TC360 and Vwind, and

implementing droplets for rain, particles for snow and sand,

exhaust dispersion calculations and noise analysis RWDI•Habitat can

develop a picture of the full climate in a development: of any size.

CoMMunity enerGy ProfilinG (CEP)Used in predicting the hourly energy demand

profile of districts in cities.

StaCk effeCt Enables modeling the interaction of stack effect, ventilation and

wind pressures in and around buildings, in hot and cold climates.

vault Vault is RWDI’s Green Building certification management tool.

It permits RWDI to efficiently track all documentation that is

required to achieve certification and quickly produce scorecards

and assessment reports. Vault permits RWDI to focus on the

development of a high performance building while ensuring the

project is on-track to achieve the desired certification level.

2030 CoMPaSS (Tracking the AIA 2030 challenge)This tool provides architects with a means to track the evolution of

their design practice. RWDI can independently assess completed

projects, their energy use intensity, and offer insight as to how

the building performs relative to others in the portfolio. CeP tool

eclipse tool

virtual WindTM tool

oasis tool

RWDI•Habitat has developed a suite of custom tools to accelerate modeling and analysis for design. The tools were created as a result of specific questions from architects and engineers on projects.

These tools address different aspects of sustainable and climate aware building design including:

MeteoroloGyThe basis of any climate aware design is

good quality meteorological data. The

Habitat team conducts a comprehensive

analysis of the climate at the site to

identify options and constraints. When

the data is wrong for the project, we

can rebuild the data using forecasting

tools. This process is essential for

passive and climate responsive design.

Sun (Shade, Glare & dayliGhtinG)Depending on the climatic conditions at a project site,

architectural massing and orientation can be planned to encourage

either building self-shading; solar penetration for daylight

availability and passive thermal gain; or both. Early during

masterplanning and individual building studies, opportunities

exist to enhance the design for all facets of solar exposure.

~ 10,000 km

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Wrong site data: The closest meteorological data available does not accurately represent the weather conditions at the project site.

hidden data in abu dhabi: Winds in the morning (right) have a specific behavior that is hidden in the overall (left) wind statistics.

Weather data Source

Project location

Manipulating solar exposure for comfort, daylighting and glare: Sky View Factor for a masterplan in the Middle East before and after landscaping.

RWDI has developed a means to address all climate impacts on a development, at the building and district scale. We do this by breaking down the individual components of climate and then look at the relationships between them, the project, and the interactions. We look for the advantages and opportunities provided in all climates, so that we can maximize advantages of passive design.

enerGyEnergy consumption predictions can be calculated

at all stages of design. Quickly at the beginning of

masterplanning and concept building design, and in

more detail as design progresses. Rapid energy analysis

provides a useful piece of information for decision making

to ensure design decisions are reducing energy demand.

As design progresses, detailed proof of concept of

innovative strategies can further reduce energy demand.

tranSPort of PartiCleSMassing and orientation are among the strategies used to limit

adverse snow, sand and dust movement. The Habitat team,

can advise on innovative means to controls these elements as

well as rain infiltration, in-cloud icing and snow deposition.

Wind and teMPeratureOn a masterplanning level, wind and shading in the urban

realm can be engineered to seek optimal thermal, wind,

visual, acoustical and air quality comfort conditions. This

approach also aids in reductions of building energy demand

by seeking to optimize the building within the climate so that

the viability of natural ventilation, for example, is optimized

and mechanical ventilation right sized.

urban realm enhancement: This semi-outdoor urban space, located in a hot region, is well shaded, but suffered from stagnant wind conditions. A series of simple wind towers provided ventilation which significantly improves comfort.

robust natural ventilation: Natural ventilation in a classroom operating in cooling mode: the classes were also designed for a heating mode. (Image to right: Courtesy of Bassetti Architects)

Rainfall behaviour is predictable: Computational model and rain penetration simulation results for three different mitigation options.

Passive design: An earth tube, sometimes called a labyrinth or Canadian duct, can reduce building energy

demand by providing pre-heated, or cooled, air to a building or space using ground

coupled heat transfer. Results below are for pre-cooling in a dry desert environment.

RWDI•Habitat has experience working on all

of these issues, holistically, for facilities of

vastly different scales, around the world, and

can provide a comprehensive assessment of all

factors influencing the comfort, safety, cost and

performance of inhabited spaces.

www.rwdihabitat.com | www.rwdi.com

As an integral part of Rowan Williams

Davies & Irwin Inc. (RWDI), RWDI•Habitat

can leverage resources such as wind

tunnels, physical model testing,

computational modeling capabilities

and on-site testing equipment. RWDI is a

comprehensive team of senior scientists,

engineers, specialists, meteorologists,

engineering technologists, modelers,

technicians and support staff. These

experts at RWDI work with designers

and developers to meet the world’s most

complex structural and architectural

challenges with experience, knowledge

and superior service. By using these

resources, RWDI•Habitat strives to

understand the impact of the environment

on a development, new and existing, and

vice-versa. The multi-disciplinary teams

of engineers, scientists, modelers and

technicians at RWDI have the experience

and tools to develop innovative solutions

to assist with design challenges. The

ultimate goal is to create safe, healthy,

comfortable spaces while reducing

energy usage and fiscal costs.

RWDI•habItat MaRket SectoRS SeRveD:

PlanninG � Masterplans

� Sustainable Campuses

� Renewable Energy

� Heat Island Impacts

outdoor SPaCeS � Harsh Environments

� Parks & Public Realm

� Microclimate Manipulation

airPortS � Airport Terminal Buildings

� Hangars

healthCare / hoSPitalS � Operating Rooms

� Patient Isolation Rooms

� Laboratories

hiGh-riSe BuildinGS � Tall Buildings & Structures

� Green Buildings

� Offices & Condominiums

� Hotels

SPortS faCilitieS � Stadiums

� Arenas

hiGher eduCation & reSearCh laBS

� University & College Campuses

� Laboratory Buildings

� Data Centers

� Lecture Halls

hoSPitality and entertainMent

� Performing Arts Centers

� Casinos

� Convention Centers

� Museums & Art Galleries

� Resorts & Hotels