Energy modeling helps designers fine-tune a building’s orientation, form, glazing system, space plan, and finishes.

In HOK’s design of a 250,000-square-foot lab and office building for S.C. Johnson Wax in Racine, Wisc., energy models and large-scale mockups guided the team as they sought to integrate the mechanical and electrical systems with internal equipment loads, lighting systems, exterior form and massing, window and skylight detailing, and landscaping.

Energy studies projected that the building’s gross annual energy consumption would be approximately 73,000 BTU/SF—about 60% less than the average for similar buildings operating 40 hours per week. Based on the International Facility Management’s Association (IFMA)’s statistics for average new construction in Wisconsin, this reduced energy consumption saves S. C. Johnson about $100,000 per year.