INTEGRATIVE DESGIN PROCESS
An Integrated Design Process (IDP) may be described as a series of project discussions and workshops to produce opportunities and synergies across many disciplines and building systems throughout the planning, design phases, construction, and beyond. Yet, when conducted correctly, it can be so much more.
The original form of the IDP was developed by the ANSI and building industry/design practitioners in 2005 as a way to achieve higher levels of environmentalism- in particular with the LEED certification program, as well as the Living Building Challenge. Since then, a group of regenerative practitioners (Bill Reed, John Boecker, Marcus Scheffer, and others) redefined the IDP to include a wide variety of project stakeholders and processes to expand project potential and positive outcomes.
coLAB studio has engaged in the latter form of IDP since 2014. Since that time coLAB has been able to work with/learn directly from, Reed, Boecker, and Scheffer to expand our own knowledge and capabilities for our clients to great effect.
We believe this is by far the best delivery method there is.
Below are project examples of our work facilitating Integrated Design Processes for various clients.
Desert Botanical Garden Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science
Matthew Salenger (coLAB studio) programmed and facilitated all IDP workshops - with help from design + construction partners 180 Degrees, Trueform Studio, and Jeff Frost of Brightworks.
This photograph is from the first workshop, where we dug deeply into the roots and needs of the project- and also the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and potential for outcomes to create positive evolution at the Desert Botanical Garden over the next 20 years and beyond.
To-date, the work we produced in 2014 is still being followed. That means the IDP process worked completely for the entire campus.
This is a primer for what an IDP entails:
Facilitating group design
Rather than an architect and/or engineers designing a building project in isolation, the IDP involves direct participation with the client and any other stakeholders deemed important to the process.
As the architect for this project, it was refreshing and inspiring to have all IDP participants co-creating the conceptual site plan and buildings together with the designers and engineers.
Inclusionary group work
To find the best solutions, we break into groups that each contain a diverse set of experts/owners/designers/etc, to work on a ‘problem.’ Then, each group presents their discoveries and solutions for full-workshop discussion. In this case we had five different groups working, who learned from each group’s best ideas. We then focused in on the best possible design with everyone’s consent.
General to Specific
Each workshop gets progressively more detailed. We start with general alignment of goals, move to site design, then building design, phasing, etc.
In this case we began to look at building design.
Careful Listening
Through the workshops, everyone learns to respect one another- to consider ‘crazy’ ideas, and ultimately agree on a direction.
Working it out
Dynamic design sometimes take focused corrections. And, ultimately, the designers and engineers work out details.
The engineers found the process very helpful. Though the initial meetings/workshops seemed cumbersome, it sped up the design process in the end. Most IDP’s save between 10-20% of total time from start to permitting because of the early involvement by the design team.
The end result
Once construction was complete, and we waited a year to hear the results, the Desert Botanical Garden told us their plants and staff were thriving like never before.
The first phase of construction was completed in 2017. The second phase will be completed in 2025, and Phase three in 2027. The IDP process has been the backbone for all decisions made through all design, construction, and phases.
A Montessori School Expansion
Matthew Salenger, Maria Salenger, and Sonja Bochart programmed and facilitated all IDP workshops
This photograph is from the first workshop, where we dug deeply into the roots and needs of the project- but also the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and the potential for the outcomes to create positive evolution over the school’s next 20 years.
There were only 10 people in this IDP group in order to discover how complex the project would be. As it turned out, we were able to find the right design fairly quickly.
Recording the discussions
The first workshop utilizes exercises for discussions to bring out a wide range of information from the IDP group, which forms the basis for design- but also for the relationships we create between everyone participating.
Subtle work
With all the available information, it is important to keep everything visible, accessible, and relevant for further discussion.
All information is quickly reviewed at the start of each workshop to make sure the project is still on-track.
The final design was appreciated by all involved.
Step-1 House (a design for CIRS patients)
Even smaller projects benefit from IDP
Matthew Salenger of coLAB studio was approached by a couple to facilitate a unique IDP for a house, and potentially many homes.
Because of a genetic health issue, the couple and their children require a special home that does not allow water infiltration to produce interior mold. The family sought to create a case-study of a house designed for patients like them, which could be replicated, and possibly expanded into multi-family housing developments.
The IDP allowed everyone participating to understand all the special needs of the couple, while the couple learned a tremendous amount about the building industry, specialized building materials and equipment, from the experts the couple and coLAB studio brought in.
The IDP group sets priorities and orders the content to help guide the entire IDP process as well as the design and construction of the project.
Through careful conversations, the client and coLAB studio produced frameworks to “test” various building enclosures’ ability to meet the needs of anyone wanting to build a home.
Experts really matter
The experts in health, building remediation, design, and building science allowed our IDP to educate the group and speed up the process for finding the right enclosure to utilize for the house’s design.
Part of our facilitation involves organizing all the IDP participants, setting up the workshops, disseminating information, and keeping the workshops productive.
This is an example of an “IDP Roadmap,” which shows dates and needed participation for workshops. What is shown is partial, as the IDP ultimately should extend through all design, construction, and post-occupancy testing. The workshops end before construction, but occasional site-tours and/or meetings may continue to occur as-needed through post-occupancy as desired by the client.
