ZEMCH 2019 International Conference Proceedings April.2020 | Page 359
Understanding the Needs and Challenges of
Occupant‐centric Building Design among
Stakeholders: A Review
Tareq Abuimara 1 , Vinu Subashini Rajus 1* , Quan Jin 2 , Masa Noguchi 3 , Jenny Zhou 4
3
4
*
1
2
Carleton University ; [email protected]; [email protected]
Chalmers University of Technology; [email protected]
The University of Melbourne; [email protected]
Monash University; [email protected]
Correspondence: [email protected];
Abstract: Designing high‐performance buildings is a complex process that involves several
stakeholders at different stages of design development. Design stakeholders need to work together to
achieve design objectives and overcome the challenge that arises from inefficient collaboration and
coordination. Among these challenges are occupant‐related assumptions which are made throughout
the design process, including schematic design, energy modelling, construction, and even operation.
Accuracy of these assumptions is highly dependent on the design stakeholders’ objectives and the
time that they are engaged in the design process. Differences in occupant‐related assumptions can
lead to a considerable level of uncertainty, which probably leads to suboptimal design decisions. To
this end, the current practice, including the challenges and the barriers, needs to be documented and
understood in order to develop an improved occupant modelling approach during building design.
Therefore, this paper highlights the current practices of communicating occupant‐related assumptions
in the building design process. In this paper, we also argue the need for in‐depth consideration of
communication among design stakeholders.
Keywords: Occupants; Stakeholders; Design Communication; Energy Modelling
Understanding the Needs and Challenges of Occupant-centric Building Design
among Stakeholders: A Review
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