A Decision Support System for the conceptual design of commercial office type buildings is described. The system, called BGRID employs a Genetic Algorithm to search for viable design options and is intended to be used not just by structural engineers but also by architects, building services engineers and even clients. BGRID incorporates a high level of understanding about structural design and its constraints. The design process is currently focussed on the floor plan and determining the layout of columns based on a large number of criteria, including lighting requirements, ventilation strategies, limitations introduced by the available sizes of typical building materials and the available structural systems. The system uses the Genetic Algorithm more as a search engine rather than as an optimisation tool. The development of the BGRID has involved extensive collaboration with architects, structural and building services engineers.

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