Twisting Rectangular Mass Form

The form I used for my Revit Conceptual Mass family was the twisting rectangular form. I liked the way this one looked and the twisting nature of it. After creating levels spaced every 10 feet and then creating mass slices at each of these levels I then went into Dynamo to flex this model.

Video of Flexing Parameters

Dynamo Flexing

In Dynamo I first set the building parameters which I wanted to remain constant. I created a square base of 150’ x 150’ which is within the project guidelines of 300’ x 450’. I also created the top to have a constant area of 80’x80’. These parameters can be changed and were chosen based on visual appeal.

This image demonstrates the parameters set.

Flexing the Height and Twist

I wanted to test how the building SF, surface area, and volume would change with varying heights and angles of twist. As a result I made two arrays of both heights and twists. I then was able to make combinations of these and then test each of these cases. These lists were combined so that every combination was calculated.

I also utilized a custom node named EvaluatePairsofInputsandReportMultipleResults. I slightly modified this custom node from the original provided in order to add Gross Volume as a parameter to report. I therefore had three values to output which can be seen later in my excel file.

Reporting Values

Using a mapping node which mapped the corresponding heights and angles of twist to values of SF, Surface area, and Gross Volume, I then utilized the output to excel node which conveniently displays the results in an excel file.

Choosing Values

With the excel file outputted, I then chose a building with parameters such that the Gross Floor Area was between 1,200,000 SF and 1,500,000 SF. I also wanted to make sure the height was less than the 750’ maximum which I made sure to set in parameters when I was varying the height(I made an array from 400…750…50). Based on the results which can be seen below, I believe creating a building among any of the highlighted green Gross Floor Areas would be appropriate. In order to minimize the Gross Surface Area for energy retention measures and keeping the surface to volume ratio low, I would choose a tower of a height of 550’, with an angle of twist of 45 degrees, and a surface area of 270,906.6 sf.

Estimated Cost

I estimated the cost by taking each square foot and multiply this by $500/sf. This was a simplified assumption as the linearly interpolating between $500-$1000 per the buildings height was not possible due to a lack of information of the SF per floor. To get a more accurate cost estimate this can be done in the future.