Architecture and Building Systems A/S

What Architecture and Building Systems A/S does

Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) is an academic research group at ETH Zurich's Institute of Technology in Architecture, led by Prof. Dr. Arno Schlueter. The group conducts interdisciplinary research on active and passive systems for energy supply and climate control of buildings, targeting the realization of a CO2-neutral built environment that efficiently consumes and produces energy while providing high user comfort. Its work spans the full stack from individual components to neighborhood-scale projects and from design through operation.

The group's core outputs consist of open-source software tools, research prototypes, and full-scale testing infrastructure. Key software products include the City Energy Analyst (CEA), an open-source urban building energy modeling framework from ~2016; Hive, a Rhino/Grasshopper tool for integrated building energy systems design in teaching from 2020; the Design Performance Viewer (DPV), a Revit-based BIM analytic framework from 2012; and the IDA – Integrated Design Atlas, a multilingual digital platform launched in June 2025. Research prototypes include the Adaptive Solar Facade (ASF) with patented SoRo-Track soft-material actuators (filed late 2017), the BIPVT thin CIGS photovoltaic-thermal collector, and the NEST HiLo demonstrator unit. The group operates the Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab (ZCBS Lab) on ETH Zurich's Hönggerberg campus, featuring 1-to-1-scale climatic test cells, an LED-based solar simulator, and a hotbox setup.

A/S is funded as part of ETH Zurich, a public Swiss federal institute, through competitive research grants from agencies including Innosuisse, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Velux Stiftung, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, EU ERA NET, and the National Research Foundation Singapore, supplemented by industry partnerships with Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric R&D Centre Europe, TROX, Sage Glass, Wolf Klimatechnik, ABB, and Güdel. There is no commercial pricing model, no paying customer base, and no venture or private equity ownership; outputs are distributed as open-source software (GitHub), peer-reviewed publications, teaching programs, and industry collaborations.

Name

Architecture and Building Systems A/S

Legal name

ETH Zurich - Chair of Architecture and Building Systems

Website

https://systems.arch.ethz.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Architecture and Building Systems A/S is an ETH Zurich research group led by Prof. Dr. Arno Schlueter that develops open-source building energy modeling tools (CEA, Hive, IDA), adaptive photovoltaic facades, and full-scale climate testing infrastructure for CO2-neutral built environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Energy Systems Research

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Thermal Controls & Building Management Systems (HVAC BMS) (IMAHAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS) Integration & Controls (BPABAGAA), Controls, Thermostats, Sensors & Building Automation (HVAC Controls) (IMADANAH)

Keywords

• Building energy systems
• Building-integrated photovoltaics
• Urban energy modeling
• Adaptive building facades
• Digital fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Zurich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: Primary funding from government agencies and foundations: Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), ETH Zurich Foundation, Velux Stiftung, EU ERA NET, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swiss Commission on Technology and Innovation (CTI). Additional project funding from National Research Foundation Singapore, Energy Science Center ETH Zurich.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) is an academic research group at ETH Zurich that conducts interdisciplinary research on active and passive systems for energy supply and climate control of buildings. The group develops open-source software tools for urban energy modeling (City Energy Analyst, Hive), creates research prototypes for adaptive building facades and building-integrated photovoltaics (Adaptive Solar Facade, BIPVT), and operates the Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab for full-scale testing of building components.

Product overview

Architecture and Building Systems (A/S) is a research group at ETH Zurich developing building energy systems research tools and methodologies. The portfolio centers on open-source software tools (City Energy Analyst, Hive, IDA) for urban energy modeling and building design analysis, combined with hardware research on adaptive building envelope systems (Adaptive Solar Facade, BIPVT collectors). Key infrastructure includes the Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab for full-scale component testing. Products range from academic software tools for teaching and research to experimental building prototypes demonstrated at NEST HiLo living lab. The research is organized around achieving CO2-neutral buildings through active/passive systems integration, digital fabrication, and machine learning-based building control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• City Energy Analyst (CEA): Open-source urban building energy modelling framework that links building archetypes, climate data, and energy systems to simulate energy demand, supply, and emissions at district and city scale
• IDA - Integrated Design Atlas
• Hive
• Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab (ZCBS Lab)

Products and services

• City Energy Analyst (CEA) Open-source urban building energy modeling framework that links building archetypes, climate data, and energy systems to simulate energy demand, supply, and emissions at district and city scale. Used by researchers, urban planners, and design educators for urban decarbonisation scenario analysis.
• IDA - Integrated Design Atlas Multilingual digital platform offering architects access to case studies, tools, stories, and community resources to teach and learn ecologically and socially sustainable architecture.
• Hive Software tool for Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper developed for integrated building energy systems design in teaching. Provides monthly energy demand assessment for cooling, heating, electricity, and integrated consideration of renewable energy systems, particularly BIPV.
• ASF - Adaptive Solar Facade Dynamic photovoltaic building envelope with movable CIGS photovoltaic modules mounted on lightweight structures. Each module can be individually controlled with soft-material actuators (SoRo-Track) and orientation control algorithms. Features multifunctional capabilities including energy production, shading, daylight control, and energy storage via pressurised air.
• BIPVT - Thin Building Integrated Photovoltaic-Thermal Collector Lightweight, highly efficient PVT collector combining CIGS solar cells with aluminum roll-bond solar thermal collectors. Bendable collector design for curved surfaces with significant savings in cost and material use.
• Design Performance Viewer (DPV) Modular software framework and Autodesk Revit Architecture add-in that fuses building information models with multi-objective simulation including EnergyPlus, SIA 380.1, and Exergy engines. Performs dynamic building simulation with advanced visualization for holistic energy and emissions analysis.
• Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab (ZCBS Lab) State-of-the-art research facility for testing building systems and components at 1-to-1 building scale. Features climatic test cells, solar emulator, hotbox setup, and equipment for heating/cooling systems, ventilation concepts, BIPV/BIPVT applications, sensor development, and user comfort studies.
• NEST HiLo Living laboratory building unit on NEST research building featuring Adaptive Solar Facade and performance-integrated digitally fabricated components (lightweight floor system with TABS). Equipped with hybrid AC/DC energy network for investigating local energy utilization, connected to district energy hub.

Quantifiable outcome

• ASF can achieve 61-73% energy increase over static modules on sunny days in Zurich, with energy payback after ~18 months and emissions payback after ~24 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability13 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Td Lab (ETH Zurich)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in SynEnergy project on densification of existing buildings, working on vertical extensions as soft densification strategy in Zurich.
• City of Zurich (Amt für Hochbauten, Amt für Städtebau)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in SynEnergy project providing municipal perspective on vertical extension feasibility and regulatory conditions.
• Stiftung PWG, ABZ, SAW, FGZ (Zurich Housing Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Non-profit housing organization partners in SynEnergy project for transdisciplinary research on vertical extensions.
• Innosuisse Flagship Partners (Think Earth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Think Earth - Regenerative Building flagship project (2023-2028) with partners including: Lehrstuhl für Tragwerksentwurf ETH, Professur Boltshauser ETH, Hochschule Luzern (HSLU), and industry partners: Oxara AG, REMATTER, Marti AG, Küng Holzbau AG, Blanco AD, TEN Studio, WaltGalmarini AG, Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG, Waldhauser + Hermann AG.
• United World College South East AsiasupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015First implementation of 3for2 concept on UWC Singapore campus as research demonstrator. Demonstrates 20% additional office space, 40% energy reduction.
• TROX Technik GmbHsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Industry partner for 3for2@UWC Singapore project providing ventilation system components for the decentralized air conditioning demonstrator.
• SiemenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner for Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab. Siemens Building Technologies collaborated on multiple projects including InduCity (software-based sustainable transformation of industrial area) and 3for2 project (Siemens Building Technologies funding). Collaboration on building systems research and development.
• Mitsubishi Electric R&D Centre EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on hybrid control algorithms for building systems using data-driven machine learning. Testing implemented at HiLo building (living laboratory at NEST in Zürich). Four-year research project investigating use of deep reinforcement learning for building HVAC control optimization.
• Singapore ETH Centre / National Research Foundation SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Cities Laboratory (FCL) program including MuSES project (Multi-Scale Energy Systems for Low-Carbon Cities). Research on urban energy systems in highly dense Southeast Asian urban contexts. Continued through FCL Global research module.
• EPFL Lausanne (Prof. Dr. Francois Maréchal)supportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic collaboration on energy systems optimization and modeling. Key partner in Future Cities Laboratory MuSES project for low-carbon city energy systems research.
• Block Research Group (ETH Zurich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on NCCR DFAB (Digital Fabrication) performance integrated digitally fabricated components. Joint research on thermally active building systems (TABS) and multifunctional building elements.
• Chair of Digital Building Technologies (ETH Zurich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCR DFAB collaboration on performance integrated digitally fabricated components including 3D-printed formwork for building systems integration.
• Future Cities Laboratory GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCL Global research module 'Powering The City' focused on urban building integrated photovoltaics research and development.
• NCCR Digital Fabrication (Swiss National Science Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for assessing energy and sustainability performance of digital fabrication innovations. Key collaboration on HiLo project and other advanced building component research.
• Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for NEST HiLo project - the HiLo unit sits on the top platform of the NEST research and innovation building on the Empa campus in Dubendorf. Collaboration on living lab research infrastructure.
• Wolf KlimatechniksupportingTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner providing climate technology expertise for Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab research and development.
• Sage Glass - Saint GobainsupportingTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner for adaptive glazing and building envelope technologies in Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab research.
• ABB Schweiz AGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationRobotic Fabrication Lab partner for automation and robotics research in digital fabrication.
• Güdel Schweiz AGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationRobotic Fabrication Lab partner providing gantry systems and motion control technology for digital fabrication research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• DesignBuilder Software: Commercial building energy simulation software built on EnergyPlus. Competes in the same design-stage building performance analysis space as A/S's Design Performance Viewer and Hive tools.
• Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES): Commercial provider of building performance analysis software (IESVE) for energy, carbon, and daylight modeling. Comparable scope to A/S's open-source simulation tools in the commercial market.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE): Germany's largest applied research institute for solar energy and building technology. Operates at much larger scale with broad portfolio spanning BIPV, HVAC, and energy systems; overlaps A/S's adaptive facade and BIPVT work.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): US national laboratory with substantial building energy and BIPV research programs. Larger scope and budget, but comparable applied-research focus on building-integrated renewables and energy modeling.
• Siemens Building Technologies: Existing A/S industry partner and major commercial provider of building automation, HVAC controls, and energy management solutions. Overlaps with A/S's BAS/BMS research but at global commercial scale.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Building Technologies): US Department of Energy national laboratory conducting building technology research including controls, envelope performance, and energy modeling. Significant overlap with A/S's research themes at larger scale.

Direct peers

• MIT Sustainable Design Lab: MIT research group focused on building energy modeling, urban energy systems, and sustainable design—closely aligned with A/S's urban building energy modeling and decarbonization research mission.
• EPFL LESO-PB (Laboratory of Solar Energy and Building Physics): Sister Swiss academic research group at EPFL conducting parallel research on solar energy integration, building physics, and energy-efficient building envelopes. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, scope, and academic model.
• TU Delft Building Physics Group: Dutch university research group focused on building physics, thermal performance, and energy-efficient building design. Comparable academic research scope and methodology.
• KU Leuven Building Physics Section: Belgian university research group focused on building physics, thermal performance, and sustainable construction. Comparable academic scope with emphasis on experimental and simulation methods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/architecture-building-systems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/architecture-building-systems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Architecture and Building Systems A/S