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Modeling of a building in Floorspace JS and SketchUp

asked 2025-06-05 11:46:02 -0500

mep_engineer's avatar

updated 2025-06-06 08:29:10 -0500

As a beginner to OpenStudio and SketchUp, I have a few questions regarding geometry modeling in OSM format:

Can we model structural beams within the OpenStudio SketchUp plugin? If so, how are they represented or used within the energy simulation workflow?

I initially created my building geometry using FloorSpaceJS, but I noticed that pitched roofs aren't an option there. Can we model pitched or sloped roofs directly in SketchUp for OpenStudio, and will they translate properly in the EnergyPlus simulation?

In my floor plan, different rooms/spaces have varying ceiling heights. What’s the best approach to model spaces with different heights accurately in OpenStudio or SketchUp?

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answered 2025-06-06 07:41:58 -0500

updated 2025-06-08 05:44:04 -0500

What would be the goal of modelling structural beams?

  • if the purpose is to properly factor in the additional thermal mass of e.g. concrete (+ rebar) columns and beams, then you can either adjust the thickness of e.g. the concrete slab above, or else consider adding InternalMass objects.
  • if the purpose is to instead model e.g. shading effects or point thermal bridges of beams, then there are specific solutions to address these.

So what is it specifically you're aiming at?

EDIT : From your follow-up comment, you're looking at beams as shading surfaces. Helix Energy has a nice video on adding shading surfaces in OpenStudio. Here, I added a window to the initial model below, then 6 shading surfaces to represent 3 cantilevered beams extending from the facade.

image description

I find it's best to first delineate the outline of any new shading surface using SketchUp's tape measure (as a drawing tool). I'd also ensure a small gap (> 25mm) between a beam (as shading surface) and a nearby wall. Then use the OpenStudio Plugin's Add New Shading Surface Group : pick one of the outline intersections, then click ENTER. This allows you to re-draw over the outline of each shading surface using lines. Once all shading surfaces are re-drawn, click somewhere outside the shading surface group. Save your model. These new shading surfaces will appear in the OpenStudio Application Facility tab, Shading sub-tab.

Finally, I suggest you familiarize yourself with EnergyPlus options when it comes to solar and shading (see here and here).


Below is a basic, 3-space OSM model, the geometry of which is built up in 4 steps (clockwise) using the OpenStudio SketchUp Plugin:

image description

  1. First, outline floor diagrams.
  2. Select all, use the "create spaces from diagram" Plugin feature to generate 3D spaces (all same height), then double-click on a specific space (to adjust its height).
  3. Mouse-click its roof, and use SketchUp's "Move" tool to increase its height.
  4. Draw a line to split its roof surface, select the line, and again "Move" it upwards.

This is as basic as I can describe it using SketchUp, when it comes to variable height spaces with sloped roofs. I suggest experimenting a bit ...


Hope this helps.


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It helps. Thank you so much.

mep_engineer's avatar mep_engineer  ( 2025-06-08 01:50:09 -0500 )edit
1

I am trying to model the shading effects of beams. can you tell me the solution?

mep_engineer's avatar mep_engineer  ( 2025-06-08 02:02:44 -0500 )edit

@mep_engineer, I edited my initial answer to address this beam as shade question.

Denis Bourgeois's avatar Denis Bourgeois  ( 2025-06-08 04:09:33 -0500 )edit

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Asked: 2025-06-05 11:46:02 -0500

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Last updated: Jun 08