Application of AI and Building Performance Simulations to the Early Stages of Building Design

The present study investigates how recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the environmental performance of buildings during the early design stages. A total of 36 community center designs were developed through three architectural design studio courses. The study simulated environmental performances such as expected annual energy demand, peak demand, natural lighting conditions, and the environmental experiences of users in these proposed designs employing various AI platforms, including Gemini, Insight, and Forma. The AI-powered simulation and optimization processes helped minimize the buildings' energy consumption while optimizing natural lighting and other environmental conditions. This approach facilitated the identification of environmentally friendly building orientation, form, and façade design. Furthermore, it encouraged designers to focus more on environmental issues, leading to multiple design iterations aimed at improving environmental performance. Ultimately, the study compared the proposed designs before and after interactions between designers and AI to assess how accurately the environmental context and the quality of experience users may have were represented. While the application of AI tools showed positive effects on high-performance building design, some misleading results were also noted. This highlights the importance of designers possessing fundamental knowledge to interact with AI effectively and to carefully evaluate and selectively adopt feedback from these tools. The significance of this study lies in demonstrating AI as a powerful assistive tool that enhances building performance from the initial design phase. The findings underscore the impact of AI in the early stages of building design and indicate how building professionals can prepare to effectively use this new technology and practice to promote sustainable design.