Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) (https://www.kpf.com/) is seeking a Senior Building Simulation Specialist to join our Environmental Performance (EP) team at our New York City Headquarters and bring his or her building science expertise to the design of complex architectural and urban projects.
At KPF we recognize that the built environment plays an integral role in the health and performance of both social and ecological systems. The large scale and urban nature of our projects, capable of shaping the spaces, systems and microclimates around them, defines our approach, and brings an exciting set of challenges that the EP team helps overcome. Given our escalating climate crisis, we believe it is imperative to design and advocate for resilient architectural solutions that minimize GHG emissions, reduce lifecycle impacts, and enhance the wellbeing of the communities they serve. As signatories of the AIA 2030 challenge, we are committed to design and deliver carbon neutral buildings by 2030.
The person taking the position will be working directly with KPF EP Director, developing an energy-modeling infrastructure for KPF, leading the implementation of energy, thermal, and daylight modeling in projects, and working closely with designers. She or he will also participate in the oversight of sustainability and wellness certifications for projects, such as LEED or WELL, and contribute to a broad range of internal and external research and educational pursuits.
As a main objective for the position, she or he will be assigned the task of expanding current energy modeling capabilities in the office, by documenting and developing early design energy modeling workflows to be deployed firmwide. This critical effort will support KPF’s commitment to prepare for designing carbon neutral buildings by 2030 and incorporate energy modeling as a requirement throughout our project portfolio. The effort will include not only developing simulations, but also testing software and engine options for different modeling applications, developing an educational program for design teams, and incorporating applied research into the process.
In addition, the position will provide opportunities to collaborate with other in house technology teams (computational design, BIM, VR, etc.), engage professional organizations such as AIA, GBCI, ASHRAE or IBPSA, and lead awareness initiatives through KPF’s Green, Resilience and Wellness (GRoW) team.
Day to day responsibilities will typically include:
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Research and develop custom energy modeling workflows, tools and libraries in the context of KPF’s 2030 low carbon design commitments
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Manage the implementation of design strategies for thermal, energy, and daylight performance in ongoing projects, assisting KPF design teams
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Prepare, run, interpret and communicate analysis and simulations for:
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Current and future climate data
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Solar radiation on building massing
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Daylight availability and glare
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Energy use for building massing or shoebox models
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Outdoor/indoor thermal comfort
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Develop and implement training and education sessions focused on low energy/carbon design
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Assist in the sustainable certification (LEED, WELL, Passive House, CGB) of projects
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Assist in goal setting and benchmarking of projects under KPF’s AIA 2030 commitment
Required qualifications:
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Bachelor degree in Architecture or Engineering, plus a Master’s in Building Science or Engineering
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Knowledge of fundamental building science principles, HVAC design, environmental modeling, and 3rd party certification processes
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3+ years of professional experience in energy modeling and environmental design, or equivalent amount of academic course work that demonstrates a similar capability
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Passion for learning and applying principles of sustainable and high-performance design
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Good written, verbal, and visual communication skills, for engaging KPF teams and external partners
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Experience with coordination of team and resources to undertake multiple simultaneous projects.
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Strong organizational skills to manage documentation and information and meet deadlines.
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Proficiency with Rhino and Grasshopper
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Proficiency with energy, thermal or daylight simulation tools within the Rhino/GH environment, such as DIVA or Ladybug/Honeybee, as well as other Design Analysis software such as: EnergyPlus, eQuest, IES, WUFI, THERM, etc
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Proficiency and professional experience with dedicated full building energy modeling software packages, and basic knowledge of HVAC sizing and modeling
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Basic coding skills in C# or Python
Non required but desirable qualifications:
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LEED, WELL or Passive House accreditation
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Experience in specialized areas of environmental analysis such as CFD for airflow analysis or HVAC modeling and design
KPF is a collaborative work environment that promotes excellence in our practice and encourages the participation of all team members in the design process. We are committed to investing in our staff’s long-term success, and the person joining the EP team will have access to sponsored opportunities for professional development, tools and certification training (LEED, WELL, Passive House, etc.), publication of original research in the field of building performance, and attendance to academic conferences.
KPF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes diversity in the workplace.
When applying to the position please submit your resume, a portfolio with pertinent design, research and modeling work, and a short cover letter. All materials should be sent by email to: careers-ny@kpf.com with the heading: ‘ Senior Building Simulation Specialist NY ’.