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Project Phases & Level of Development

The building process has been refined over thousands of years. While

every project’s process is slightly different, projects generally progress

along these major phases. It’s important to know the right type and

level of information that’s needed within each phase to add the most

value. 

Project Phases In the construction industry, the design process is described by the phases of pre-design,

conceptual design, design development, and final design. The building life cycle process is

described by the phases of construction and building operation.

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Typical Design Process of Buildings

Level of Detail (LOD) 

In order to efficiently manage the process of working in a BIM workflow, the industry has

adopted a formal language of describing the completeness of a digital model at a given point in

time. This language is “Level of Development” (LOD). LOD, in the BIM world, ranges from

100 (basic/conceptual) to 500 (highly detailed/precise). It is not unusual for levels of expected

development to be part of the contract documents as described by the American Institute of

Architect’s  Building Information Modeling Protocol . 

LOD phases can be summarized as follows.

  LOD 100: Modeled elements are at a conceptual point of development. Information can be conveyed

with massing forms, written narratives, and 2D symbols.

  LOD 200: Modeled elements have approximate relationships to quantities, size, location, and

orientation. Some information may still be conveyed with written narratives.

  LOD 300: Modeled elements are explained in terms of specific systems, quantities, size, shape, location,

and orientation.

  LOD 400: Continuation of LOD 300 with enough information added to facilitate fabrication, assembly,

and installation.

  LOD 500: Modeled elements are representative of as installed conditions and can be utilized for ongoing

facilities management.

It is worth mentioning that a relationship between LOD and design phases can be loosely established.

However, it should be emphasized this relationship is not empirical. For instance a project as a whole may

 be in design development, but in the digital model, the  building envelope system may be fully detailed

with exact materials and thicknesses. More so, plumbing systems might be represented with single lines,

not modeled geometries.

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LOD and Building Performance Analysis

Building Performance Analysis (BPA) is related to LOD on two fronts. First, what prevents modeled

elements from progressing to the next step of LOD is the absence of information. The answers to discrete

questions have not been found. BPA can be a mechanism for finding answers to these questions and

informing the design process.

Secondly, digital methods of BPA are dependent upon the amount of information that is digitally

modeled. Therefore it becomes beneficial to comprehend what LOD a model is at, and what that

means in terms of available data, so analysis methods can be associated with the digital

information that is readily available . For example, a model at LOD 100 will not allow one to

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conduct energy modeling that is required for LEED certification, but energy modeling with a

LOD 100 can identify how the building’s energy consumption can be influenced by solar

radiation. For these reasons, the LOD of a model and BPA practices share a feedback loop that at

times are not as linear as the steps to developing levels of detail in the BIM model. This may be

 best explained with the following graphic.

 Level of Development and Building Performance Analysis Interaction Diagram 

Drawing the BPA connectionIf we understand BPA as a tool for answering design questions, while simultaneously relying on

modeled information, we can then establish relationships to how certain BPA practices may be

related to LOD and the time scale of how a design project evolves. The following are someexamples of how these relationships work during the design process.

Pre-Design

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Phase Objectives: 

Identify the requirements of the project, existing conditions, and unearth any essential

information that will inform the design process. Common activities include preparing a building

 program, conducting a site analysis, and inventorying local code requirements.

Sustainable Design Inquires:

  What information will support BPA practices?

  What specific climate considerations should be brought to light?

  What passive sustainable design strategies should be considered in the building design?

  What environmental resources can the building design utilize?

  What are the energy/performance goals for the project?

LOD Assumptions:

If a new project, there is no digital model available. If an existing building, a digital project

model might be available at least a LOD 300.

BPA Actions:

  Decide what climate data is most appropriate for the geographic location.

  Conduct a site analysis that minimally includes investigation of  solar radiation , wind patterns , presence

and condition of existing structures, inventorying existing vegetation, and documenting any acoustic

challenges that exist.

  Analyze climate charts and determine if building is likely to be heating or cooling dominated.

  Research what sustainable design strategies would be applicable to both the geographic location, and

climate zone of the project. Tools such as the 2030 Palette and Climate Consultant can help with this.

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  Establish measurement matrices that are to be used throughout the duration of the project to confirm

sustainable design goals are being accounted for. This can be formularized rating systems such as LEED

and Breeam.

Conceptual Design

Phase Objectives: 

Decide on the direction of the design by experimenting, iterating, and obtaining integrated

design input from all parties. The principle objective during this phase is to make high-level

decisions that will provide direction to the entire design process.

Sustainable Design Inquires:

  What is the most efficient building form?

  How is the building positioned on the building site?

  How is the floor plan organized?

  How do passive sustainable design strategies integrate with the building?

LOD Assumptions:

Most of the architectural model is at LOD 100. The building form is digitally modeled in

massing geometries, and the spatial relationships of the building program are sketched out with

 bubble diagrams.

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BPA Actions:

  Run conceptual energy analysis using and modifying massing forms and determine how the Energy Use

Intensity (EUI) can be reduced by changes in building form, and orientation. Doing so can help determine

the most energy efficient building form.

  Conduct basic shade/shadow analysis of the massing model to determine what areas of the building could

 potentially support daylighting, and consequently inform interior space planning. This also informs the

 positioning of the building on the site.

  Do solar radiation studies of the mass model to maximize opportunities for solar collection.

  Study how the orientation of the massing model interacts with wind on the site. Orientation of the

 building can optimize opportunities for passive cooling and ventilation.

Design Development

Phase Objectives: 

Verify and edit performative attributes of proposed design, while refining material, mechanical,

and structural systems with specificity. This phase involves a lot of detailed experimentation and

rigorous decision making.

Sustainable Design Inquires:

  How should the floor plan be modified to improve the quality of day lighting? 

  How can HVAC equipment be designed most efficiently?

  How can structural system be designed most efficiently?

  Do passive sustainable design strategies provide the expected performance?

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  What materials are being used to construct the building?

LOD Assumptions:

Architecture model is at LOD 200/LOD 300 with generic cladding materials identified, and floor

 plan is modeled with appropriate wall thicknesses and materials. Structural model is at least at

LOD 200 with generic framing systems.

MEP model is at LOD 200 with plumbing, heating ventilation, and cooling systems laid out, and ready to

 be sized.

BPA Actions:

  Run whole building energy analysis of building model, and identify how changes in wall construction can

reduce energy demands. This also presents a good opportunity to test the performance of HVAC systemsthat were initially selected in Concept Design.

  Complete simulations that determine the general geometry of performative features to determine if

shades, light shelves, and solar chimneys are working as predicted. If not revise model geometry to do so.

  Run interior daylighting analysis of spaces, and confirm proper light levels are being achieved.

  After maximizing the efficiency of the building envelope, run cooling/heating load simulation so that

HVAC equipment can be sized for efficiency.

  Perform structural analysis of model so that structural systems can be optimized. When structural

members are not optimized for efficiency, the building consumes more construction materials then is

needed.

Final Design and Documentation

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Phase Objectives:

Provide detailed direction, and specification, to construct the most comprehensive iteration of the

 building. Assure that the constructed manifestation of the design will be as sustainable as

feasibly possible.

Sustainable Design Inquires:

  Are sustainable design goals achieved? 

  Are building owner’s expectations of costs and performance achieved? 

  What is the expected performance of the building?

LOD Assumptions:

All models completed to LOD 300, with sizes and material selections finalized for all primary

 building elements.

BPA Actions:

  Perform detailed whole building energy analysis of the final design to document expected performance,

and measure against baselines. And compare final design against the measurement matrices that were

defined in Pre-Design.

  Perform greenhouse gas emissions analysis to document expected environmental impact.

 

Audit final building materials for costs and green qualities (recycled content, close proximity to

construction site, low VOCs).

Construction

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Phase Objectives:

Bring the building design into physical reality, by practicing sustainable construction methods

and utilizing quality control methods.

Sustainable Design Inquires:

  How can waste be reduced in the construction process? 

  How can fabrication methods reduce waste?

  How can construction be done in a sustainable manner?

LOD Assumptions:

Architecture, MEP, and Structural models are at LOD300 and are being evolved to LOD400 withenhanced information that supports fabrication and construction coordination.

BPA Actions:

  Analyze building quantities to assure that exact material quantities are delivered to the project site. Doing

so will avoid excess material that gets turned into waste.

  Analyze best fabrication methods with digital automation. This step reduces waste material in the

 production of building assemblies.

  Run construction scheduling simulations that identify how to reduce equipment operations on the project

site. Less use of construction equipment reduces both energy consumption and air pollution.

Operations and Maintenance

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Phase Objectives:

The building becomes occupied and has all equipment operating.

Sustainable Design Inquires:

  Are environmental control systems operating correctly?

  Is building able to maintain sustainable design goals when occupied?

  Is maintenance being done that assures environmental control systems can continue to perform at their

optimum?

LOD Assumptions:

All models are at LOD500, represent physical conditions, and are being updated in parallel with

facility management operations.

BPA Actions:

  Perform initial and ongoing commissioning of environmental systems to assure they are working as

anticipated. Poorly performing environmental systems can result in compromised occupant comfort, and

unnecessary energy consumption.

  Add ongoing utility cost/demand data to energy model, and compare/identify differences between

designed and actual performance.

 

Administer occupancy survey to verify occupant satisfaction, and make recommendations to facilitiesmanagement for improving occupant satisfaction.

- See more at: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/buildings/project-phases-level-

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