Parametric BIM-based environmental and economic performance of high-strength steel in high-rise buildings

High-strength steel (HSS) offers significant potential for high-rise building construction; however, its environmental and economic performance remains insufficiently explored. This study employs a parametric life cycle assessment (PLCA) model to determine the viability thresholds at which various HSS grades deliver lower environmental impacts while maintaining cost competitiveness with mild steel. The PLCA model integrates geometry, material specifications, supplier data, and eighteen environmental impact categories into building information modeling (BIM) to calculate and visualize environmental and economic outcomes in real-time. Multi-objective optimization (MOO) techniques are applied to minimize structural weight, cost, energy consumption, and CO₂-eq emissions. The accuracy of the PLCA model was validated against a conventional LCA using 8- and 20-storey case studies. Results indicate that 20-storey buildings utilizing HSS grades S460 to S690 achieve reductions in environmental impact of 7.5 % to 38.9 % compared to mild steel. Cost parity with S355 was observed at building heights ranging from 17 to 65 storeys, depending on the HSS grade. These findings suggest that HSS can effectively reduce CO₂-eq emissions and construction costs, thereby supporting the construction industry's transition toward net-zero emissions.