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Buildings Designers Prepare for a Windy Future
Defining the future of real estate
Franco Faraudo
April 10, 2024
Propmodo Daily
By Franco Faraudo · Apr. 10, 2024
Greetings!
For centuries, buildings have withstood strong winds. But as climate change pushes the boundaries, architects are getting creative. Today's email dives into the cutting-edge solutions emerging to shield buildings, their inhabitants, and surrounding areas from the wind's force. We'll explore how structures are not just resisting the wind, but even harnessing its energy.
Post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) can provide valuable insights into a building's operations and help identify areas for improvement. But, their high cost and complexity have prevented widespread adoption. Check out the new article on how POEs powered by custom apps and monitoring devices are transforming building design, performance, and sustainability.
Plus, this week in Propmodo Technology, sponsored by SWTCH, we're exploring multifamily management. Discover how technology optimizes feasibility studies, the rising value of electric vehicle charging stations, and strategies to accelerate lease-ups.
Now, let's dig in!
Building Designers Prepare for a Windy Future
The effects of climate change extend beyond rising temperatures. New studies reveal that climate change is intensifying "straight-line thunderstorm winds", posing a growing threat to buildings and their occupants. Building designers will need to prioritize protection against these increasingly common high-wind events.
Last year, San Francisco buildings suffered significant window damage during an "atmospheric river" event that brought unusually strong winds and rain. This incident led to fallen glass hazards, prompting the city to revise building codes and mandate window inspections for any structure over 30 years old.
Architects and engineers are already incorporating wind-resistant design strategies. Some supertall buildings, like the Burj Khalifa, employ a tapered profile to minimize wind leverage on the foundation. Others utilize openings within floors to help reduce wind shear across the structure's surface. But, these represent just the initial steps in adapting to the challenges posed by intensifying winds.
A recent study by the American Institute of Physics reveals how building design plays a surprising role in our environment. Strategically placed buildings can create "zones of safety" from rain, and smooth, rounded corners help lessen wind impact. Interestingly, high winds might even reduce flood damage in some cases.
Beyond simply mitigating the elements, architects are finding ways to harness wind as a clean energy source. While still uncommon, new bladeless wind turbine designs are smaller and more aesthetically pleasing, making them better suited for building integration. In hot climates, the ancient barajeel technique is seeing a revival. This method draws air through rooftop ducts, cools it underground, and then circulates it throughout the building, offering potential temperature reductions of up to 50 degrees.
Wind can certainly be disruptive, but it's a powerful, renewable resource. If climate change leads to increased wind activity, the hope is that innovative designs will allow us to tap into this power. This can help reduce emissions and lessen the environmental harm we cause.
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Overheard
For the mortgage rate lock-in deniers out there.
Coincidence? Or other factors?
— Colin Robertson (@mortgagetruth)
9:35 PM • Apr 8, 2024
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