Design Analysis Workflow

The most appropriate workflow for early analysis is to began designing within the BIM application. At this stage you can utilize the geometry for massing and orientation analysis, while also setting up thermal zones to began the process of energy modeling. But perhaps most crucial to this process is the guarantee that your model always contains the latest information, so that any change to the design can instantly be evaluated.
Our first example (above) shows how a mass in Revit can be used to define the building elements. After manipulating the mass you hit "remake" and all of the building elements will adjust to define the new shape. This process optimizes every benefit of Building Information Modeling while enabling us to reduce our building geometry to a basic form with which we can conduct multiple types of environmental analysis.

Incident solar radiation studies allow us to optimize our massing and orientation, and to prioritize which surfaces will need treatment as a project moves forward. Radiation levels are shown on the north facing surfaces (top) and on the southwest surfaces displayed with vector spikes (above).

If it is the case that 3D design information is consistently generated in non-BIM modeling platforms, we can still utilize this data so long as certain modeling standards are employed. In almost every 3D platform there is an opportunity to model with solids rather than surface geometry. When creating solids, or masses which can behave as solids, you set yourself up for four opportunities:

1. Orientation and facades studies. Subdivide your model into surfaces, thoughtfully, then import it into Ecotect.
2. Coordination. After linking the data into a BIM platform the solids can be sectioned and measured to produce your document set.
3. Area schedules. Instantly.
4. Energy modeling. Rooms/spaces/zones are used within the BIM platform to set up in-depth energy modeling. This can be conducted by the architect but preferably it is done by an experienced engineer.

The simple model shown above was used for facade analysis, plan and section views, area schedules, and an iterative energy model.

In our second example we took a simple tower shape and modified things (twisted it). For a full update after this modification there will be a few more steps than just hitting "remake," but within this process rests infinitely more potential than that where the model is only used to judge aesthetics. I must note here that all of these opportunities were available in the first example but with an improved workflow.

Twisted shape in plan, section, elevation and axonometric.

Modeling solids, analyzing surfaces

The processes described above are those which I have had the most success with, but I am always happy to hear of other experiences.