AECOM Designs Kuwait International Airport
FenestraPro was used to examine the implications of substantial glazing on specific orientations and the impact it would have in terms of thermal performance.
FenestraPro was used to examine the implications of substantial glazing on specific orientations and the impact it would have in terms of thermal performance.
Advanced analysis of thermal, solar and daylighting performance in any extreme climate.
Use of glazing and frit specifications to immediately understand implications.
Import and Export Revit model data directly into FenestraPro for analysis.
AECOM UK were engaged to design a support airport terminal, which was subsequently upgraded to a full terminal in the Airport District of Farwaniyah, Kuwait. With a footprint of over 40,000m2, the design itself included an undulating roof extending from a low level on the Landside to a higher level on the Airside. The terminal was proposed to consist of 11,000m2 of façade, of which over 63% was glazed, predominantly in the two main elevations on Landside (to the east) and Airside (to the west). Given the solar exposure in a desert climate, controlling the internal overheating whilst protecting a good quality natural daylight was identified as a challenge to the design.
FenestraPro was used to examine the implications of substantial glazing use on these orientations and the impact it would have in an extreme climate on thermal performance, passive solar heat gain and natural daylight. Even with the use of a relatively high performing double-glazed unit, the designers understood when using FenestraPro that internal heat gains were far higher than acceptable, and that this would result in the overheating of the building.
With additional glazing to the Airside and a higher solar exposure, FenestraPro calculated an increase in extreme heat gains to spaces in that orientation. Although additional vertical shading could be used as a solution to reduce the excessive solar heat gains, it would also compromise the overall aesthetic of the original design proposals.
The designers were able to quickly prototype various solutions within the BIM environment using FenestraPro and receive feedback with solutions around various mitigation measures. To ensure that the building would not overheat and maintain a high level of daylight, FenestraPro provided a solution using an alternative glazing specification of a solar control glazing paired with suitable daylight transmittance and low-level fritting.
FenestraPro equipped designers with the ability to quickly optimize passive energy use in Kuwait Airport, resulting in the reduction of required energy loads on cooling and artificial lighting systems.
”FenestraPro is versatile and fast when providing detailed feedback and solutions. In the design stage of this project, FenestaPro gave us a high-level overview of the implications of excessive glazing use in a sunny climate and an accurate understanding of the overall building performance.
Yifan ZhangFaçade Engineer at AECOM
Define a Team with invited users for project collaboration, and to share project reports, building codes and glazing specifications.
Export envelope geometry and material specifications to an Excel spreadsheet for review and comparison.
Quickly set a Window to Wall Ratio to be applied automatically to all facades on the model to check compliance, thermal performance, or outline internal performances such as daylighting and heat gains.
Control glazing zones on both conceptual and detailed models. Define percentage values to generate glazing areas on detailed models or create notional glazing zones on conceptual models.
Autodistribute glazing to equalise Heat Gains on all orientations of a Conceptual model, or add glazing elements to a Detailed model by defining parameters such as WWR, glazing geometry or internal performances.
Calculate shading effects to include the impact of shading devices and other features on your project. Quantify the effects effects from shading elements and run a Shading Animation to visualize the impacts throughout the year.
Control the properties of components within nested curtain panels by material, and use assembly values, (including framing, mullions and edge of panel values) for a detailed thermal performance of curtain walls in the model.
Simulate a fritting effect on glazed model elements and apply to update Solar Loads and Daylight results. Dynamically adjust transparency and coverage to review various options.
Understand how glazing geometry and material properties will affect thermal, solar heat gains and daylighting, and toggle between Peak and Average Values.
Create custom Groups of Facades/Surfaces to quickly navigate and focus on critical areas of the project.
Select glazing products from leading manufacturers globally from our database of 1000+ IGUs. Sort, search and filter by SHGC, VLT or U-value. Apply to properties directly to your Revit model to understand performance in real-time.
Optimize glazing selection from our database of 1000+ IGUs from leading manufacturers globally, based on target values for thermal, solar heat gains and daylighting.
Define thermal values for elements in Conceptual Massing Environment to comply with target Energy Codes, or automatically apply target values to update all element types for compliance.
Create custom IGU assemblies through our partner's Glazing Configurators, and import to FenestraPro to apply directly to the Revit model.
Link from glass products in the database to product pages online to review specifications and access EPDs.
Export BIM data to our Reporting Platform for data analysis, comparative analysis and creating customizable reports to share with your teams or clients.
Export envelope geometry and material specifications to an Excel speadsheet for review and comparison.
Identify and resolve issues in the Revit Energy Analysis Model before analysis to ensure a robust and best practice Revit envelope model.
Define target values for maximum allowable glazing, or quickly calculate the optimal solution based on thermal performances. This glazing can be applied directly to the Revit model to see internal performances.
FenestraPro Learning is an agile learning platform that provides users with short courses on getting started, conceptual and advanced functionality and AIA courses for free credits.
Define prescriptive values for categories of elements, including Roofs, Floors, Walls and Glazing. Compare actual element values for compliance status.
Calculate shading effects to include the impact of surrounding buildings and other features on your project. Run a Shading Animation visualize the impacts of shading on the model throughout the year.
Isolate solar irradiance by orientation, then review values that require attention. Charts compliment selections to display colour coded results.