Tall Buildings
ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.12

Meetings Information

Technical sessions sponsored/cosponsored by this TC at the Chicago Winter Meeting are listed below (all times are listed in Central Local Time). Check out our past programs here!

 

 

 – 

Panel 6: Tall Building Design: An Owner's/Operator's Perspective

Marriott Marquis Chicago, 2nd Floor, Great Lakes B

The panel will consist of four people who own, operate, or have to perform their professional duties in tall buildings. They will share their experiences when managing or interacting with a tall building's HVAC and plumbing systems. Their discussions will focus on design elements that have long-term operational impacts on these systems. Chair: Francis Kohout, Director of Engineering
1. Residential Tall Building Manager
Amy Eickhoff, First Service Residential, Chicago, IL, USA
2. Commercial Tall Building Operator
Barbara Hickey, EQ Office, Chicago, IL, USA
3. Residential Tall Building Developer/Owner
James McDonough, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago, IL, USA
4.Fire District #1 Chief 
Frank Soldano, Related Midwest, Chicago, IL, USA

 – 

Seminar 29: Does Solar And/Or Wind Energy Have A Role In Large And Tall Building Systems?

Marriott Marquis Chicago, Great Lakes C

Chair: Dennis Wessel, PE
Tall buildings are prevalent in our society. With our future trending toward Net Zero energy, how can designs incorporate sufficient renewable energy to accommodate this requirement?  Roof areas in tall buildings are a very low percentage of the overall floor area. Title 24 requires that 35% of roof contain solar panels. This leaves little tall building roof area  for HVAC equipment for a limited energy benefit. Some countries require that buildings over 80 stories have 2-1/2% of total energy consumption from renewable sources.  With limited onsite generation capability, will this requirement dictate that owners construct a renewable energy farm offsite?
1. On-Site and Off-Site Renewable Energy Opportunities for Large and Tall Buildings
Tyler Jensen Environmental Systems Design, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA
This study explores the potential of onsite renewable energy in various geographies. We will showcase the integration of solar PV into a tall building façade and rooftop solar PV applications. We will investigate offsite renewable energy opportunities Assessing the benefits and limitations of various power purchase and renewable energy credit options. Understanding how large and tall buildings can participate in offsite renewable energy initiatives is crucial for achieving decarbonization goals. Finally, we will investigate how large and tall buildings can integrate with the electrical grid that is increasingly powered by renewable, but variable sources like wind and solar.
2. Does Solar and/or Wind Energy Have a Role in Large and Tall Building Systems?
Marzia Sedino, SOM, Chicago, IL, USA 
Urban environments are destined to grow to make room for an increasing world population. While denser and taller cities create opportunities for more efficient infrastructure, they come with challenges: high energy intensity, self-shading and limited envelope area make building-integrated renewable technologies not always viable or cost-effective in tall buildings. However, urban buildings are part of an intricate, sophisticated and increasingly resilient urban fabric, where streams of resources can be shared and traded. This paper will explore decarbonization scenarios at the urban scale, and quantify opportunities for renewable energy integration among buildings that are intrinsically connected with one another.

 

Tuesday, January 23 

 – 

Seminar 39: LIVESTREAM: Indoor Air Quality, Automation and Artificial Intelligence in Tall Buildings

Marriott Marquis Chicago, 2nd Floor, Great Lakes A

Chair: Mehdi Jalayerian
The recent technological advances in digital building control system can generate dynamic system operational data and space environment characteristics. This data can be used to actively manage buildings IAQ and temperature spikes and by leveraging the artificial intelligence process an automated and smart mitigation can be implemented to facilitate best space indoor air quality and comfort condition. This seminar discusses intelligent/smart building solutions and operational data management approaches for Class A Tall Office Buildings.
1. Automation and Remote Controls for Occupant Experience and Comfort
Thru Shivakumar, Cohesion, Chicago, IL, USA
The mental and physical health of building occupants are impacted by poor air quality and temperature in spaces or outdoors. In Class A Tall Buildings, 28% of work orders come from too hot/ too cold requests and an average of 3 elevated indoor air quality pollutant events occur per day per space. These events can last for hours or until the next air exchange if not properly managed. Most buildings are not actively managing their IAQ and temperature spikes which results in poor occupant experience, a lack of comfort, a decrease in productivity, and an increase in poor health outcomes.
2. Beyond Scheduling: Automation and AI in the New Era of Data Normalization
Isaac Townsend, Cohesion, Chicago, IL, USA
Real time controls and automations can be programmed to mitigate or dissipate pollutant spikes. However, these controls are almost always custom built software that is not flexible to changes in devices or equipment. Cohesion will dive into the opportunities with IAQ, Occupancy, and energy efficiency data and how AI can be leveraged to reduce energy costs and increase healthy building outcomes. Leveraging AI starts with normalizing, structuring, and learning large swaths of datasets.
3. Demystifying Building Certifications and Exploring Well in the Age of Health and Wellness
Chad Flores, Cohesion, Chicago, IL, USA
Certifications are not a new concept but WELL building certification has recently gained popularity after the pandemic. Specifically, IAQ programs increased in popularity as the pandemic ensued for over 2 years. Like other certification agencies, WELL evaluates at point in time assessments. They also provide innovation points for ongoing monitoring made available to building occupants.

 – 

Seminar 43: Climatic Impact on Internal Pressures and Indoor Environment of Mega Tall Buildings

Marriott Marquis Chicago, Watershed A

Chair: Suzan Sun-Yuan, PE
External wind conditions and local climate contribute to the building stack effect and change the character of the building HVAC System operation and indoor air quality. The envelope performance of the building also impacts the building’s HVAC operation. Many tall buildings throughout the world are experiencing significant air movement both inside and outside the building. There are practical strategies that could be utilized to mitigate the impacts of building HVAC Systems. Current testing standards versus live measuring conditions show the difference. This session aims to improve the operation and conserve the energy.
1. Climatic Impact on Internal Pressures and Indoor Environment of Mega Tall Building
Mehdi Jalayerian, PE, Environmental Systems Design, Inc., now Stantec Consulting Services, Chicago, IL, USA
Local climatic conditions such as wind and temperature cause uncontrolled air movement into and out of a high-rise building due to wind forces on building envelop and air buoyancy caused by indoor/outdoor temperature differences. The uncontrolled air movement or uncontrolled internal pressure difference significantly impacts the performance of HVAC and life safety pressurization systems. It will impact building energy performance, especially in harsh climatic conditions. This presentation discusses the internal pressure variation in mega-tall buildings and its impacts on building HVAC system design, operation, and energy performance. It also provides strategies to mitigate and manage such impacts.
2. Effect of Wind on Building Pressurization in Tall Buildings
Vincent Tang, RWDI, Toronto, ON, Canada
The stack effect in tall buildings causes different issues including irritants (e.g. whistling and drafts), upset conditions (e.g. elevator doors seizing and indoor temperature extremes), and dangerous circumstances (doors that slam or will not open). When calculating the overall pressures, wind pressures at different levels, and sides, of the building overlay on top of the stack effect induced pressure. Hence the flow patterns associated with HVAC pressurization will change if the wind conditions change sometimes dramatically. This presentation will show the consequences of different wind and temperature conditions on building HVAC operations arguing that more dynamic control systems are required
3. Future Climate and Pressure on Tall Buildings
Luke Leung, Principal of the Sustainability Engineering, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP, Chicago, IL, USA
Many tall buildings throughout the world are experiencing significant air movement. Our current building envelope testing standard is one size fits all. For Dubai Khalifa, the building will actually experience multiple times higher than the envelope pressure tested. Wind speeds are getting faster worldwide. In less than a decade, the global average wind speed has increased from about 7 mph to about 7.4 mph. Is this generation of tall buildings ready for future wind speed? This session will review whether we need to design our tall buildings differently according to local conditions and per future wind speed.

 – 

Seminar 49: LIVESTREAM: Emerging Technologies in Tall Buildings

Marriott Marquis Chicago, Great Lakes A

Chair: David Norris, Mechanical Engineer
As more people flock to cities, the world is building vertically. This seminar aims to share the environmental and technological advancements in engineering design in high-rise buildings. Come tour buildings in Chicago and Japan. Explore technologies in decarbonization, carbon capture, machine learning, hybrid wind ventilation and artificial intelligence. Get a glimpse of the present and future of smart and tall buildings.
1. Urban Sequoia: Net Zero Whole Life Carbon
Luke Leung, PE, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Chicago, IL, USA
Urban Sequoia brings together different strands of sustainable design thinking, the latest innovations, and emerging technologies and applies them at the scale of a building. By holistically optimizing building design, minimizing materials, integrating biomaterials, advanced biomass, and carbon capture technologies, Urban Sequoia achieves substantially more carbon reductions than what has been possible by applying these techniques separately. The building would reduce upfront embodied carbon by 70 percent when compared to that of a typical high-rise. In the first five years of the tower’s life, the building would reach a 100 percent reduction in whole life carbon, achieving net zero.
2. Design Methods for Environmental Purposes in High-Rise Complex Buildings
Ken Kaneko, Group Leader, TAKENAKA CORPORATION, Aichi, Japan
This presentation will introduce the environmentally conscious technologies and design methods employed in the design of a super high-rise mixed-use building in Japan. Exterior design considering the effect of solar radiation based on an annual simulation Ventilation system switching system that takes into account the thermal environment of the perimeter Air conditioning planning considering energy characteristics of mixed-use buildings in district heating and cooling systems Environmental design methods using the latest computational technology.
3. Connecting Tokyo with the Environment
Hirotaka Kubo, Eng, NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD, Higashi Ku, Japan
The Museum Tower Kyobashi building challenged the perception that it was impractical to attempt to harness naturally occurring wind effects to ventilate high-rises. Its hybrid ventilation system is expected to reduce energy for cooling. Using standard meteorological data, it is estimated that out of 4,745 hours of annual HVAC system operation time, 30 percent are available for wind ventilation, and an additional 3 percent can be used for stack ventilation. The project is expected to yield energy savings of 30% or more over standard design. The building won the MEP award for CTBUH.
4. Smart Office Building in Chicago
Mehdi Jalayerian, PE, Environmental Systems Design Inc. now Stantec Consulting Services, Chicago, IL, USA
The 151 North Franklin Street tower is prominently located in Chicago’s Central Business District, with easy walking access to commuter rail and rapid transit hubs. The 35-story building is LEED Gold and WELL Gold certified tall building as well as the winner of 2019’s Digie Award for “Most Intelligent Office Building”, and with location, views, amenities, and best-in-class technology, integrated automation systems and intelligent building systems. The Integrated Automation and Operational System is a mobile platform enhances visibility into energy use and provides feedback to help maintain efficient and healthy operation creating a streamlined building experience.

 – 

Seminar 50: LIVESTREAM: Electrification of Tall Buildings for Decarbonization and Future Proofing

Marriott Marquis Chicago, Great Lakes A

Chair: Rick Heiden
To meet decarbonization goals, several cities in the U.S. and abroad have prohibited using fossil fuels to heat buildings. Tall buildings within these cities present unique challenges to decarbonize, especially heating in cold-climates. The objectives of this seminar are to provide tall-building design strategies for electrified heating systems, future-proofing electrical infrastructure and evaluating life-cycle carbon. The speakers will draw from pioneering cold-climate projects on the east coast and mid-west along with Chicago's rich history of all electric buildings in order to provide future-proofing tactics for the tall buildings of tomorrow.
1. Heating with Ice: An Electrification Solution
Christopher Colasanti, PE, JB&B Engineers, New York City, NY, USA
Electrification of high-rise buildings with limited real estate using heat pumps can seem unfeasible and uneconomical. However, there is a twofold solution: leverage heat from inside the building and implement thermal storage in the form of ice-water to reduce the size of new heat pumps. In fact, engineers can exploit the phase-change properties of ice to heat a building. This presentation will provide high rise decarbonization strategies using innovative and economical “Ice Heating” solutions.
2. An Innovative Medium-Voltage Upgrade That Powers Skyscrapers Higher
Mehdi Jalayerian, PE, Environmental Systems Design Inc. now Stantec Consulting Services, Chicago, IL, USA
Imagine a day in the recent past when modern skyscrapers were impossible because power systems on the ground could only reach 30-40 stories high. An innovative medium-voltage upgrade from the late 1960s has evolved to become the industry standard and has greatly helped tall buildings not only exist but to enjoy a reliable and economical electrical infrastructure. The higher voltage power system distribution dramatically increased electrical energy capacity in the building and paved way for a revolutionary approach to efficiently power future tall buildings. This presentation provides an overview of this innovative solution and its application to modern skyscrapers.
3. Whole Life Carbon in Tall Buildings
Luke Leung, PE, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Chicago, IL, USA
Whole life carbon in tall buildings can be very different than low rises: Firstly, is about the scale. In New York City, 2% of the building count represents 48% of operational carbon emissions. This is similar to Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, etc. - tall buildings together represent a lion share of operational emissions in major cities; Secondly, is about life cycle. The life cycle in tall buildings can be much longer than the conventional 60 years’ life cycle of low rises. Thirdly, is the microenvironment. Tall buildings offer more forgiving microenvironment as temperature and humidity typically drop with elevations.

Attend a Committee Meeting

ALL ASHRAE committee meetings, including this TC’s meetings at the Winter and Annual Society conferences, are open to the public at no cost nor is conference registration required. Interested visitors, local chapter members, and potential new TC members are always welcome. However to attend technical program sessions sponsored by the TC will require registration and payment of any applicable fee.

Participation in an ASHRAE TC provides the opportunity to grow professionally and to contribute to the advancement of HVAC&R within an international organization recognized for shaping the future of the built environment through research, standards writing, publishing, and education.