Integrated Design
From Swikipedia
Introduction
Integration, an essential process in designing a sustainable building, views a building as a system that allows the discovery of synergies and potential tradeoffs or pitfalls with design choices. And integrated design is a holistic process that considers the many disparate parts of a building project, and examines the interaction between design, construction, and operations to optimize the energy and environmental performance of the project.
Brief Description
An integrated design process requires multidisciplinary collaboration, including key stakeholders and design professionals, from conception to completion. Decision-making protocols and complementary design principles must be established early in the process in order to satisfy the goals of multiple stakeholders while achieving the overall project objectives. This avoids situations like when, incompatible elements of the design are not discovered until late in the process and by then it is too late and expensive to make changes. It also involves a “whole building design” approach, where a building is viewed as an interdependent system, as opposed to an accumulation of its separate components (site, structure, systems and use). The goal of looking at all the systems together to is make sure they work in harmony rather than against each other.
Elements of Integrated Design:
1. ‘Whole building design’ should be considered
2. Focus on life cycle design
3. Work together as a team from the beginning
4. Conduct assessments (threat / vulnerability assessment / risk analysis) to help identify requirements and set goals
5. Develop tailored solutions that yield multiple benefits while meeting requirements and goals
6. Evaluate Solutions
7. Ensure requirements and goals are met (via building commissioning etc.)
8. Emphasize the integrated process
References:
http://www.cityofseattle.net/dpd/GreenBuilding/OurProgram/Resources/Greenbuildingglossary
