Generative Massing and Optimization Tool

In collaboration with FLAD Architects, our team developed a computational design workflow to rapidly generate and analyze massing scenarios based on critical project requirements such as Gross Floor Area (GFA), Floor Aspect Ratio (FAR), and program mix. This tool was instrumental in helping project teams evaluate and optimize floor plan layouts during the early design phases.

For this project, which aimed to deliver over 50,000 square meters of laboratory space, the tool enabled the optimization of views and minimized solar gain on specific orientations, significantly enhancing annual energy efficiency. The tool’s interactive features allowed for real-time adjustments to building footprints, taking into account the site’s topography and quantifying impacts on unobstructed views, daylight availability, and overall floorplan efficiency.

Through hundreds of iterations, filtered and ranked via a web-based interface, the tool provided invaluable insights, guiding the project team through key design decisions. By encoding client requirements and design team intentions, we balanced conflicting objectives, generating several alternatives that met all design criteria. Additionally, the tool assessed the impact of various façade schemes on daylight availability within the laboratories. This analysis led the team to adopt a dimensional cladding strategy that not only facilitated large window openings but also provided shading, preserved ocean views, and seamlessly integrated the buildings with the local topography.

See the final project here: Breakthrough Properties- Torrey View