O processo de projeto de arquitetura, engenharia e construção (AEC) tem evoluído consideravelmente com a finalidade de responder à complexidade dos sistemas interconectados de um edifício (TOULOUPAKI e THEODOSIOU, 2017). Vêm sendo solicitados à arquitetura contemporânea, processos de projeto capazes de quantificar e qualificar o maior número de variáveis presentes nos sistemas de um edifício, com a intenção de balancear suas dinâmicas e inter-relações (SHI e YANG 2013). A presente pesquisa utiliza o processo de projeto orientado ao desempenho como condutor de sua investigação. Os projetos e pesquisas que exploram o desempenho através da otimização de projetos em AEC são predominantemente internacionais. Além desse aspecto, grande parte dos processos e seus conjuntos de procedimentos não são publicados, especialmente os métodos para gerar os algoritmos utilizados. Muitas destas não detalham, tampouco disponibilizam suas implementações. Tal condição impossibilita conclusões seguras sobre as características das otimizações produzidas, dificulta a reprodução dos métodos e desampara discussões sobre soluções alternativas. Desta maneira, torna-se reduzida a reflexão na arquitetura sobre quais métodos são mais apropriados para a otimização de determinados problemas do projeto arquitetônico (WORTMANN et al., 2015). Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa estrutura-se na metodologia Design Science (SIMON, 1996), dada sua natureza de produção de conhecimento através da abordagem pragmática e interdisciplinar, envolvendo conteúdo da arquitetura e da ciência da computação. Pode-se por fim afirmar que com o apoio da metodologia empregada na presente pesquisa, desde a revisão bibliográfica ao plug-in ArchOptimum desenvolvido nos experimentos realizados, obteve-se resultados que colaboram com a compreensão e abertura dos potenciais da associação entre a arquitetura e a ciência da computação através do design computacional. / The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) design process has evolved considerably in order to respond to the complexity of the interconnected building systems (TOULOUPAKI and THEODOSIOU, 2017). In contemporary architecture, computational design processes are capable of quantifying and qualifying better variables present in the building, balancing their dynamics and interrelationships (SHI and YANG 2013). This research uses the process of Performance-oriented Architectural Design as the driver of its investigation. Research and projects in AEC that explore performance through optimization are predominantly international. In addition, most of the processes and their sets of procedures are not published, especially the methods to generate the algorithms used. Many of these do not detail and make their implementations available. This makes it impossible to secure conclusions about the characteristics of the optimizations produced, makes it difficult to reproduce the methods, and disregards discussions about alternative solutions. These facts reduce the reflection on which methods are more appropriate for the optimization of specific problems of the architectural design (WORTMANN et al., 2015). In this context, the present research is structured in the Design Science methodology (SIMON, 1996), given its nature of knowledge production through the pragmatic and interdisciplinary approach, involving the content of architecture and computer science. Finally, it is possible to state that with the support of the methodology used in the present research, from the bibliographic review to the ArchOptimum plug-in developed in the experiments, we obtained results that collaborate with the understanding and opening the potencies of the association between architecture and computer science through Computational Design.

Buildings in the United States account for nearly 68% of all U.S. energy consumption due to their reliance on electrical lighting and mechanical systems. Beginning in the 20th century, emphasis on developing the glass curtain wall created increased energy demands on lighting and mechanical systems. Consequently, the building’s curtain wall is a direct cause of significant energy loads. This research project investigated how current parametric design tools and energy analysis software are used during a performance-driven passive solar design process to develop facade systems that lower the energy use intensity (EUI) of a building and increase natural daylight to an acceptable illuminance level (lux). Passive solar shading strategies were employed to realize the proposed design process through a proof of concept project that retrofits the facade of an outdated office building in a hot-mediterranean climate. Incremental steps were taken using parametric software (Revit Architecture 2015) to increase the passive solar and daylighting performance capabilities of the facade system and Autodesk Green Building Studio was employed to measure, compare and contrast the results of each design.