Sophia KianniExploring Optimal Building Massing for an NYC Office Design
In designing a sustainable and efficient office building in New York City, I used Forma to analyze and compare multiple massing configurations, including rectangular, square, and a more dynamic, sustainable diamond box shape similar to the one in the reference image. The goal was to identify the best-performing massing in terms of sunlight exposure, daylight potential, and overall space efficiency—key factors for creating a high-performance office environment.
Massing Analysis & Selection
Through Forma’s computational analysis, I evaluated how different massing shapes performed across key criteria:
- Sun Hours Analysis → Measured how much sunlight the building facades and surrounding ground areas receive.
- Daylight Potential → Assessed how effectively each form captures daylight, ensuring optimal indoor natural lighting.
The diamond box shape emerged as the best performer in both categories, offering superior daylight access while maintaining a strong balance between efficiency and aesthetics. Given these results, I developed four key design goals to guide the project.
Goal 1: Maximize Natural Sunlight into the Building
- Measure: Sun Hours and Daylight Potential analysis
- Targets:
- Minimally acceptable value: Sunlight exposure comparable to standard rectangular massing
- Desired/target value: Optimized sunlight exposure using sustainable diamond box shape
- Strategies:
- Use a building massing that maximizes daylight potential (as identified in Forma)
- Implement large, well-placed windows and reflective surfaces to distribute light efficiently
Goal 2: Enhance Energy Efficiency
- Measure: Energy use intensity (EUI), passive heating/cooling strategies
- Targets:
- Minimally acceptable value: Compliance with NYC energy codes
- Desired/target value: 20%+ improvement over baseline energy code requirements
- Strategies:
- Integrate passive solar design with shading devices to control heat gain
- Use high-performance glazing and insulation to reduce energy consumption
Goal 3: Maximize Space Efficiency and Usability
- Measure: Ratio of designed spaces vs. program requirements (target minimum 95%)
- Targets:
- Minimally acceptable value: 95% match with space allocation requirements
- Desired/target value: 98%+ efficiency in spatial layout
- Strategies:
- Optimize circulation with minimal corridors and dead spaces
- Implement modular, flexible office layouts to enhance usability
Goal 4: Minimize Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to Optimize Land Use
- Measure: Floor Area Ratio (FAR) relative to zoning allowances
- Targets:
- Minimally acceptable value: Maintain FAR below NYC zoning maximum
- Desired/target value: Keep FAR close to 0.1 to minimize footprint while maintaining function
- Strategies:
- Utilize vertical stacking to fit program needs while reducing footprint
- Explore mixed-use spaces to reduce redundant square footage