SimBuild 2024: Celebrating Two Decades

Every two years, IBPSA-USA recognizes leaders in our field with awards presented at the SimBuild conference. At SimBuild 2024, the following IBPSA-USA awards were presented:

• Distinguished Achievement in Building Simulation – Linda K. Lawrie

• Outstanding Practice – Big Ladder Software

• Emerging Contributor

  • June Young Park, PhD

  • Matthew Dahlhausen, PhD

  • Parastoo Delgoshaei, PhD

  • Yunyang Ye, PhD

• Outstanding Service – Carrie Brown, PhD

• Outstanding Researcher – Wangda Zuo, PhD

• Outstanding Chapter – IBPSA-USA Chicago Chapter

Thank you for your contributions to the building performance simulation community.

IBPSA-USA also recognizes the winners of the Student Travel Scholarship:

• Amber Su
• David Milner
• Hunter Swope
• Jihoon Chung
• Jongki Lee
• Mahya Fani
• Rosina Adhikari
• Sichen Lu

The SimBuild 2024 Scientific Committee recognizes key contributions of authors to the research program. 

• Best Research Paper – “Building Operations Emulator: Integrating Interactive Building Energy Simulation into Building Operators Training” by SungKu Kang (Korea Aerospace University), Michael B. Kane (Northeastern University)
• Best Application Paper – “ANT: A Multizone Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Ventilation Analysis Plug-in for Algorithm Aided Design” by Jialei Shen (National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, College Park), W. Stuart Dols (National Institute of Standards and Technology), and Brian J. Polidoro (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
• Best Student Paper – “Applications in CityLearn Gym Environment for Multi-Objective Control Benchmarking in Grid-Interactive Buildings and Districts” by Kingsley Nweye and Zoltan Nagy (The University of Texas at Austin)
• Best Video Abstract – “Addressing the Need for Microclimate Considerations in DOE Reference Building Prototypes for Urban Energy Simulation with a Focus on The Urban Shadow Effects” by Sedigheh Ghiasi, Ulrike Passe, and Jannette R. Thompson (Iowa State University)
• Best Video Abstract – “RESI: A Power Outage Event And Typical Weather File Generator For Future Resilient Building Design And Operation” by Zixin Jiang and Bing Dong (Syracuse University)
• Best Reviewer – Jamy Bacchus
• Best Reviewer – Kathryn Hinkelman
• Best Reviewer – Yasin Mohamed Ibrahim Idris

The IBPSA-USA Research Committee also recognized the contributions of various IBPSA-USA members throughout the year. 

• Ask a Modeler – Kaushik Biswas, PhD for “Modeling novel or atypical envelope materials or assemblies” 
• Ask a Modeler – Jayati Chhabra for “How do we better prepare students for the building simulation industry?”
• Webinar – Zoltan Nagy for “Designing Grid-Interactive Smart Communities using CityLearn”
• Webinar – Clayton Miller for “Skills for tackling built environment challenges”
• Webinar – Elvin Ruya for “Energy Audits – Towards Higher Performing Buildings”

Finally, Project StaSIO recognized various innovations and contributions to its mission. 

• Honorable Mention in Innovation – Qi Zhang for “What is the impact of surface’s tilt and orientation on solar availability at 40 N?”
• Honorable Mention in Aesthetic Design – Autusa Behroozi for “What is the impact of alternate water sources and reduction strategies on the site’s total gallons of freshwater consumption?”
• Honorable Mention in Clarity – Deepashree K S for “What is the impact of shading and solar films on radiative gains and cooling loads?”
• Student Winner – Siddhi Vashi for “What is the impact of Insulation thickness on Electricity consumption, Reduction in HVAC system size and additional cost of insulation?”
• Overall Winner – Kate Bren for “What is the impact of envelope, lighting, and mechanical upgrades on cost and energy efficiency of a 1960s commercial high rise building?”