Evaluating Sustainability of Architectural Designs Using Building Information Modeling

Abstract

BIM (Building Information Modeling) has been recently implemented by many Architecture, Engineering, and Construction firms due to its productivity gains and long term benefits. This paper presents the development and implementation of a sustainability assessment framework for an architectural design using BIM technology in extracting data from the digital building model needed for determining the level of sustainability. The sustainability assessment is based on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, a widely accepted national standards for sustainable building design in the United States. The architectural design of a hotel project is used as a case study to verify the applicability of the framework.