Join 1000s of Professionals
FREE MEMBERSHIP

Construction Education & Training
Access to Forms & Tools
Construction Articles & White Papers
Construction News, Jobs, Blogs & More

Integrated Design

The intent is to create an integrated approach to the design process by involving key design team members, users, occupants and operators. An integrated design process leads to improved communication and a systems approach to problem solving resulting in optimizing performance at the lowest cost.

Required Performance Criteria:
1. Conduct an organization/kick-off meeting including the team.
2. Assemble appropriate stakeholder team
3. Include representation from every discipline that will be involved in the project: Owner's decision making team, users, occupants, operations and maintenance representatives, at least one representative from the community, and at least one agency "client" or visitor representative. Also include Owner Representative and commissioning agent if applicable. Choose members who can make a commitment through post-occupancy review phase.
4. Conduct planning/ review workshops at key phases with all team members.
5. Comprehensive Business Planning Workshop at Agency planning phase
6. Programming Workshop during Predesign Programming
7. Facility Performance Workshop within the first 2-3 weeks of the schematic design phase
8. Convene multi-disciplinary team at least once per design phase for integrated progress review towards guidelines
9. Convene stakeholder team regularly for integrated progress review. Stakeholder team to meet a minimum of once per phase.
10. Convene General Contractor and Sub-contractors for pre-construction kick-off meeting to review the MSBG goals and objectives.
11. Incorporate discussion about the progress toward project outcomes during every construction meeting.
12. After occupancy, Facility Operations Manager, Human Resources Manager and others that offer cross disciplinary points of view on Facility Operations shall meet annually to review operation practices, complaints, and building maintenance issues.

No matter what the shade of green aimed for, the best method of implementing green design is based on the process of integrated design. Integrated design requires early and continuous interaction between the project’s team members. To integrate a green project effectively, coordinate closely between multiple disciplines and make use of computer modeling and other non-standard design practices. In addition, consider engaging a commissioning agent from the outset as these professionals are experienced at spotting common design mistakes.

- Robyn Parker AIA LEED AP

Related Products