AIA Research Award for Dr. Shermeen Yousif, and Prof. John Sandell

The Florida Society of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) celebrated inspiring work at the annual AIA Florida Design & Honor Awards at July 30 in The Breakers in Palm Beach. Faculty at the school of architecture FAU, Assistant Professor, Dr. Shermeen Yousif, and Prof. John Sandell, received the Citation Award in Theoretical & Research, Professional, for "Airflow Simulation for Informing Environment Design: Apartment Housing in Tropical Climates."

 

According to Dr. Yousif and Prof. Sandell: ”we are honored to receive the award and represent one project of the research happening at the school of architecture at Florida Atlantic University.”

Building in tropical climates entails designing to shelter from the heat, protect from storms, and create interior environments with adequate cross-ventilation. For architects, engineers, and urban designers, part of meeting these design criteria signifies adopting passive design principles aimed at optimizing human comfort and energy-use in buildings. In this project-based research, we examine cross-ventilation with the aim of optimizing airflow inside habitable environments. Simulation of airflow pattern within architectural and urban design yields significance in pursuing higher environmental performance and resiliency. For such airflow analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) becomes an accurate method. This work contributes to the shift in design process to include building performance simulation early in the design phases, to inform decision making and achieve higher efficiency. It furthers discourse on designing with climate by considering local climatic factors and as another means to explore the ensemble of architectural elements and spatial relationships in a housing model. As part of the methodology, a prototype framework was developed, starting with modeling the urban built environment, following an outdoor airflow analysis of the site conditions and the immediate urban context. Site conditions were calibrated in the analysis model, using average wind velocity (8 meters/second) and prevailing wind directions (south-east). After that, we followed indoor CDF simulation of the different residential units. Both outdoor and indoor airflow analyses were performed using the Grasshopper/Rhino algorithmic environment.

The design awards were chosen by a jury of experts based in Barcelona, Spain. Continuing the tradition of AIA Florida engineers competing on the world stage. The Design Awards encourage excellence in architecture, raise public awareness of good design, and recognize architects whose work enriches our built environment. The Honors Awards honor the work of members who exemplify the ideals of the American Institute of Architects professionally and in their community.”