Dale Anderson

“Integrated design” seems to be the latest buzz word in the design and construction industry. As with most buzzwords that reflect industry innovation, defining the meaning of the word and actually applying its concepts requires a little more depth—and often education—for practitioners. 

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) offer two explanations of integrated design that seem to permeate most discussions. AIA states, “Architects and others in the construction industry are realizing that client demands for increased efficiency and better design are requiring a more collaborative and integrated approach to design and project delivery than practice has traditionally offered.”

DOE’s definition echoes AIA’s focus on the collaborative nature of integrated design, soliciting the participation of multiple disciplines ranging from architects and HVAC experts to landscape designers. However, DOE goes one step further and addresses sustainability as a key component of the integrated design process, saying, “This process often includes integrating green design strategies into conventional design criteria for building form, function, performance, and cost.”

While both definitions sound great in theory, how are design and construction professionals gaining the conceptual and practical knowledge and experience to apply integrated design in their practice? For those ready to enter the workforce, do their higher education and training programs provide adequate opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and to learn how to work together to produce a sustainable design process and product? And for seasoned professionals, what opportunities exist to learn and practice these new principles, which as AIA notes, is different from the traditional approach?

I asked a group of design professionals how they thought integrated design becomes actual practice. I developed a survey relating specifically to the university experience, and invited design professionals ranging in discipline, years of experience and geographic location to participate. The group’s responses produced two apparent trends.