Analysis of facade redesign for enhanced satisfaction and improved building performance

The building envelope is known to be an important aspect of design and engineering of ultra-low energy buildings. The facade (building skin) could have the potential to redirect and filter daylight, influence frontal external wind intensity, provide natural ventilation, manage heat transfer, enhance occupant well-being, and create visual and physical connections between the inside and outside. The advances in facade technologies have been triggered in part by higher energy prices, stricter building codes, and higher occupant and owner expectations regarding the quality of the finished construction. This paper provides a comparative assessment of the effect of redesigning an existing building facade and other building improvements. It assesses the impact on external environmental conditions (wind speed and pressure) by employing computational fluid dynamics. The impact of these changes on occupant satisfaction was also gauged. It is hoped that this analysis will provide a framework for assessing benefits of improved facades in other buildings and applications.