Assessing integrated workflows for multidomain simulations in the design process through a student design competition

Building performance can be evaluated using a wide range of performance measures. To design buildings that benefit both the occupant and environment, multiple angles may be taken, based on the objectives for envelope performance, daylight performance, energy demand and generation, and occupant comfort and well-being. The challenge of considering multiple domains within the design process is evaluated in this work by means of a teaching experiment in design education, in which engineering and architecture students collaborated to participate in a student design competition. This work presents the workflows of the students for integrating multi-domain considerations across the design process. The integration of a multitude of performance measures and the communication between students is analysed from students’ perspectives, with questionnaires administered at the end of the design process. Findings indicate that while students faced challenges such as interoperability issues, steep learning curves, and communication gaps, they also benefited from the understanding of design-performance trade-offs and synergies. The results are interpreted within the broader context of literature on the challenges arising from integrating multidomain simulations and facilitating trans-disciplinary communication in design workflows. • Performance metrics could conflict or synergise, suggesting potential for trade-off mitigation. • Model import issues and time constraints obstructed multidomain simulation workflows. • Technical challenges emerged modeling specialized elements like blinds and inclined surfaces. • Cross-disciplinary communication suffered from divergent discipline-specific work patterns. • Despite challenges students benefited from deeper interdisciplinary understanding.