Case Study: Ingenieurbüro Gratzl achieves cost-effective building optimization with SimScale CFD

Ingenieurbüro Gratzl uses cloud-based CFD from SimScale as a cost-effective alternative for building optimization

Ingenieurbüro Gratzl, a specialist in building physics and Green Building Simulation, needed a better way to evaluate thermal comfort and passive cooling for a four-storey entrance hall in Vienna’s Althan Quarter development. The team had to determine whether the space could be conditioned through passive ventilation in hot summer periods, and if not, identify low-energy measures to improve comfort. To do this cost-effectively without heavy hardware investment, they turned to SimScale’s cloud-based CFD software.

Using SimScale, Ingenieurbüro Gratzl ran both internal and external flow simulations to assess temperature stratification, airflow, and wind pressure coefficients on the building envelope. The simulations helped confirm the design assumptions, revealed a 10 K temperature difference between floors, and showed localized air velocities above 0.1 m/s, prompting changes to inlet placement. In total, the project ran in 3.5 hours using 95 cores overall, enabling SimScale to support a practical, cost-effective workflow for building optimization.

Ingenieurbüro Gratzl

Markus Gratzl

Owner