Chapter 5 - Design Strategies and the Green Design Process

Abstract

This chapter focuses on design strategies and the green design process. Clear design objectives are critical to any project's success, yet to achieve maximum benefit, the project goals must be identified early on and held in proper balance during the design process. The chapter elaborates the features of green design which include: an integrated approach to design and construction to achieve a high-performance building and smart growth, relates to the ability to control sprawl, reuse existing infrastructure, and create walk able neighborhoods. The integrated design process (IDP) approach differs from the conventional design process in a number of ways. The various elements of integrated design approach are sustainable, cost effective, accessible, productive, historic, aesthetic, functional, and safe/secure. The key process difference between green-building design and conventional design is the concept of integration. Green buildings typically use an IDP, which relies on a multidisciplinary team of building professionals. The professions required to join the project team in an integrated process include the owner's representative (OR) and the construction manager (CM). The chapter provides design process for high performance buildings. The general considerations for this process are site design and building placement and physical security. Commissioning begins at a project's inception and culminates in the inspection, testing, balancing, and actual verification of the new building systems. Cost management should also begin at the earliest phases of design, using target costing, value management, and risk management.