Students from the Master’s in Building Energy Performance (MBEP) program at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, have won the Student Modelling Competition 2025 organised by International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA).
It was organised as part of the 19th Building Simulation Conference (BS2025) in Brisbane, Australia, from August 24–27, 2025.
The biennial IBPSA Building Simulation Conference is one of the world’s leading international events in building simulation, bringing together researchers, professionals, and students from across the globe.
This year’s competition witnessed participation from approximately 40 teams, worldwide. CEPT University’s MBEP students secured the top position, with Carnegie Mellon University, USA, taking the runner-up spot.
CEPT University is a recognized leader in education and research in the areas of architecture, planning, design, technology and urban management.
This is the third consecutive time the CEPT team has reached the finals, and for the second time in a row, the CEPT team is a winner. The 17th and 18th editions of the conferences were held in Bruges, Belgium and Shanghai, China, respectively.
The team comprised Akarshna AK, Niyati Jogi, Samiksha Bhardwaj, Swetha R, Vasudev Pandya, and Vishal Yadav, who were mentored by CEPT faculty members Prof. Rajan Rawal, Prof. Minu Agarwal, Ms. Siddhi Vashi, Research Associate at the Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE), CEPT University and Malay Dave of Steensen Varming, Sydney.
The competition required students to focus on energy performance analysis and retrofit strategies for the Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge in New South Wales, Australia. The CEPT team’s solutions demonstrated:
- Use of passive design strategies to reduce active heating and ensure air quality: The team proposed a smart and energy-efficient design that would cut down uncomfortable hours by 94 percent and reduce the need for active heating to only 27 hours in the entire year, while improving air quality.
- Reducing electricity consumption for heating and cooling: 54 percent reduction in overall HVAC energy consumption through optimised system interventions.
- Powering the gallery with renewable energy integration: The students designed a 303kW solar PV system that could generate three times the gallery’s annual energy needs, enabling year-round off-grid operation.
- Reducing embodied carbon in the building facade: The students achieved a 30.7 percent embodied carbon reduction in the building facade enhanced material choices, including the use of low-carbon materials, replacing insulation, improving cladding, and reducing steel.
Sharing her experience, one of the winners, Swetha R, said, “Participating in the BS2025 Student Modelling Competition was an immersive experience where our team tackled façade design, HVAC strategies, off-grid systems, and thermal comfort—balancing performance, sustainability, and occupant well-being. Collaboration, mentorship, and problem-solving strengthened my holistic approach to building performance and laid a strong foundation for my professional journey beyond academia.”
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