Your role as Architect is more complicated and important than ever. Even before September 11, 2001, architects have led the construction industry in advancing LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design). Since then there has been an added emphasis on energy independence, which is integral to national security. Architects have also led the construction industry in technology advancements, principally through the emergence of CADD and now BIM (Building Information Modeling).
When considering the advancements in LEED and BIM, it would be reasonable to assume great progress is being made in developing a cost-effective, low impact, high performance building. The reality is, however, that the construction industry as a whole is stagnant in both productivity and innovation. As such, high performance buildings cannot be produced by a low performing industry. Conventionally produced “green” buildings increase the capital cost of construction, without empirical evidence of owner breakeven and payback. This results in owners becoming increasingly leery of the “green” building movement, particularly during recessionary times. This reality places the architect in a difficult position: one of being motivated to advance high performance “green” buildings, yet not wielding sufficient influence on the building production (the very point where obstacles to the movement reside).
The root of the problem is that construction continues to struggle against an industrial-era paradigm — one characterized by fragmented, compartmentalized silos in multiple dimensions. Even though the industry continues to produce a wide variety of complex buildings, its stagnated productivity and failures to innovate are creating much more of an adverse impact. The implications are going far beyond a burden to the industries’ customers. The impact on the overall economy and ecology continues to mount. An increasing demand for cost-effective, low impact, high performance “green” buildings is confronting a decreasing capacity for the construction industry to deliver under it industrial-era structures and practices.
The answer is for construction to adopt a performance paradigm — one characterized by computational science, systems thinking and management approaches that reflect comprehension of both. Architects may learn more about the performance paradigm through research articles (a/k/a white papers) and Performance Building Blog . The introductory paper, "Performance Building" describes the five key transitions driving the industry towards the performance paradigm: (1) Performance standards and measures, (2) Function-based computing, (3) Completed operating building focus, (4) Integrated innovation, and finally (5) Integrated optimization. The result of these transitions is a transformation from conventional “gray” and “green” buildings to high performance “green” buildings.
As the performance paradigm emerges, you have an opportunity to help encourage or lead your organization to plan for such a paradigm shift. This will be through an education, training and planning process. Certainly, such a process would involve a transition that would not place your current business at risk, and in fact may help it — in operations and marketing. One way to prepare is by instituting a High Performance Strategic Plan within your practice, according to the following outline:
Organization Leadership — identification of leaders with the motivational and organizational skills to guide the leadership team through the planning process, beginning with establishing a clear culture of improvement and purpose.
Organizational Goals and Strategies — the clear statement of goals is the beginning of all good planning initiatives, this planning included. This step would include an evaluation of where your priorities are in considering the high performance paradigm — including assessment of market sectors, likely building team partners, delivery methods, customer needs, competitor influences, etc. It may also include planning related to mergers or acquisitions or expanding the portfolio of services.
Education and Training — because the performance paradigm is founded on computational science and systems thinking, education and training in these areas is important. The “Links” section of this website provides such resources for consideration.
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Performance Standards and Measures — the white paper, “Performance Standards and Measures” describes how quantitative performance proceeds from the completed operating building and also the building process. From these, you will then develop its internal standards and measures — most likely based on some key industry recognized values, but could also apply those that may be unique to a particular practice.
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Innovation Strategies — the white paper, “Integrated Innovation” describes how innovation proceeds from the performance paradigm. The sections that are particularly relevant to the architect include:
- Cyber Discovery Initiatives – the white paper “Function-based BIM” presents the process of Virtual Project Development and the BIM family of technologies that expands the current BIM applications.
- Prototyping and Compositing
- Product and System Production and Pre-fabrication
- Cloud Innovation — both for developing and for adopting innovation
- Optimization Strategies — the white paper, “Integrated Optimization” describes how optimization proceeds from the performance paradigm. The sections that are particularly relevant to you include:
- Organizational Integration
- Lean Design and Construction
- Process Integration and Automation
- Completed Operating Building Optimization
Project Delivery Model — establishment of a model and guideline for project delivery teams to use in adopting the Performance Building Process
Equip & Empower leaders to pursue this and also the performance building plan. Financing and other resources will need to be appropriated to engage in the performance paradigm.
Implementation Plan — a short term (1 year) action plan for implementing the high performance strategic plan
The Performance Building Institute presents a comprehensive set of technologies and strategies for accomplishing construction's transition into the performance paradigm. If this interests you, please contact the Institute by email info@performancebuilding.org.