Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the largest umbrella organisation in construction, bringing together over 50 separate bodies which are professional CIC institutions, trade associations and research organisations. These DESIGNQUALITYINDICATOR organisations collectively represent over 500,000 individual professionals and 25,000 businesses engaged in ONLINE the commissioning, planning, , production, management and maintenance of the built environment.

CIC 26 Store Street London WC1E 7BT T 020 7399 7400 www.cic.org.uk

DQI T 020 7399 7424 F 020 7399 7425 www.dqi.org.uk [email protected] Design: DUFFY Contents

This publication sets out Foreword 02 the Design Quality Indicator Introduction 03 in detail. It explains how to use DQI Online, and The purpose of the DQI 04 provides examples of How has the DQI been used so far? 05 how the tool has already assisted in the delivery What is the DQI tool? 06 of quality buildings. DQI Online 08 DQI facilitators 10 The future of the DQI 11 DQI in use 12 Case studies 13 Glossary 17

01 Foreword Introduction

Every time we commission a building project we are developing a The Design Quality Indicator is the pioneering process to prototype. One or all of the key elements of the project are being evaluate the design quality of buildings. The development of the used for the first time; we have a new site, new team and/or new DQI has been led by CIC with sponsorship from the DTI, CABE client. The question is how do we monitor this unique process to and Constructing Excellence and with support from OGC. The ensure that we get a consistently good product? DQI has been developed into an easy to use web tool, DQI Online, for everyone involved in the procurement and use Traditionally the end user has become a guinea pig in the process. of buildings. We don’t know until the building is occupied if it really meets the needs of the end user. This means that we frequently end up with Sir John Egan’s Strategic Forum for Construction report unhappy customers and waste time and resources trying to Accelerating Change (published in September 2002) highlighted accommodate design issues that we didn’t anticipate. the key importance of design quality. The Strategic Forum for Construction, under the Chairmanship of Peter Rogers has The DQI is a welcome innovation as it takes the guess work out declared that use of the DQI should be one of five major headline of the whole design process. It focuses the team on the needs of targets by which the industry’s ongoing performance should be the end user, involves all the stakeholders throughout the process judged between 2004 and 2007: and helps develop a more sustainable building. The overall result is an improved product and importantly we can learn from the “By the end of 2004, 500 projects will have used the Design process because the DQI allows us to measure how the Quality Indicators and by the end of 2007, 60% of all publicly improvements are made. funded or PFI projects (having a value in excess of £1 million) and 20% of ALL projects (having a value in excess of £1 million) to utilise the DQIs.” Peter Rogers Chairman of Strategic Forum for Construction and Chairman of Constructing Excellence

02 03 The purpose of the DQI How has the DQI been used so far?

What is it for? The brief version allows the project The DQI Trailblazing Scheme was launched The DQI was used by MORI for the Audit It has been developed to help all built aspirations to be clearly set, addressing in July 2002 and was the first opportunity Commission to survey 95 end users in 18 environment stakeholders gain more value the opinions of the stakeholders, and can for the construction industry and client PFI and Non-PFI schools, this led to the from the design of buildings, and to assist be used through strategic briefing stages organisations to use the DQI tool on projects. publication of ‘PFI in Schools; The Quality in improving the quality of buildings. to detailed brief to set priorities and answer and Cost of Buildings and Services questions such as: What do we want? By the end of the Trailblazing Scheme just Provided by Early Private Finance Initiative Who is it for? Where do we want to spend the money? over 1,000 people had completed the DQI, Schemes’. A non technical device, the DQI can be of which 330 were end users of projects. used by all stakeholders involved in the Mid-design version allows the client Case studies highlighting the experiences of Other evaluation tools production and use of buildings, including and design teams to check whether early four Trailblazers can be found on page 13. The DQI as a product measure has been public and private clients, developers, aspirations have been met and allows developed to work with the existing financiers, design firms, contractors, adjustments in focus and quality to be Other design measurement tools performance measures from Constructing building managers and occupants. made accordingly. It can be used The DQI is the major construction industry Excellence, in particular the Headline KPIs throughout the design phase when the design evaluation tool, but it sits alongside which assess the process – the delivery When can it be used? project can still respond to change. other sector specific toolkits to measure the of the building. It also complements The DQI questionnaire encompasses value of design. The DQI has been involved sustainability tools such as SPeAR, questions which are relevant at any stage Ready for occupation version is used with these other projects, to help create a BREEAM and EPIs. in the development of a building and the immediately before occupation to check consensus on design evaluation and tool can be revisited and re-used whether the brief/original intent has been produce synergy in approach. throughout the life of the project. achieved. The NHS Estate’s Achieving Excellence Ideally the DQI is used at every key stage In-use version is used in order to receive Design Evaluation Toolkit was produced of the development; it can also be used feedback from the project team and the to assist hospitals developing design repeatedly at a particular stage. building users to help make improvements specifications and shares a common Key Design Performance Quality for the next project, and can lead on to strategy with the DQI. Indicators Indicators There are four versions of the tool and more thorough post-occupancy studies. DQI Online automatically adjusts the Defence Estates’ design evaluation method, questions displayed so they are relevant DEEP, is a focused design study of users to the particular phase of the project that of military housing to help users address is being assessed. the quality of their housing. Sustainability Tools

04 05 What is the DQI tool?

The DQI tool assists a 1. The DQI questionnaire 2. The DQI weightings 3. The DQI visualisation building’s procurement The DQI questionnaire is a short, simple, The DQI operates with a dual weighting The DQI is graphically presented in a team to define and check non-technical set of statements that collect system which firstly allows results to number of ways, each of which help the views from all stakeholders by looking be visualised depending how all the allow comparisons between: the evolution of design at the functionality, build quality and impact respondents judge the success of various – Groups of respondents, comparing the of buildings: aspects of the building. quality at key stages in views of the buildings eventual users with those of the delivery team the development process. Functionality is concerned with the way in A second of weighting will address: which the building is designed to be useful – Stages of a project, from the opinions Fundamental factors which every building There are three parts and is split into use, access and established at the inception stages of must achieve in order to function a project, and how these are being to the DQI tool: Build quality relates to the performance Added value starts to indicate that the achieved by the design of a building fabric and is split into building will add value to the activities performance, and construction – Schemes within a portfolio of projects for which it is intended Impact refers to the building’s ability to Excellence is achieved when the design create a sense of place, and to have a sparkles as a whole by satisfying the positive effect on the local community and fundamental factors and adds value environment. It is split into character and innovation, form and materials, internal

environment and urban and social nt

integration excelle

fu n All projects exist within a context of finance, d il u it time, and environmental resources and b y these are high on the agenda of all building commissioners, financiers and developers. Good design quality enables the better Excellence deployment of these resources. The DQI addresses this by advising professional Added Value input, and it has been found that the use of a DQI facilitator has proved particularly Fundamental important at briefing stage.

impact

Overlapping quality fields

06 07 DQI Online

DQI Online is the web based version Face-to-face Remote use of the tool. It is straightforward to initiate and easy for respondents to use. The Respondents attend a The DQI leader briefs results are obtained instantly and are meeting and are given a respondents – by visualised graphically to help facilitate presentation by a facilitator telephone, or through a discussion about project aspirations, and on the DQI. ‘virtual classroom’ on the the extent to which they have been met internet. Using internet enabled computers respondents The DQI leader emails The process complete the questionnaire the key to all respondents. Anyone can initiate use of the DQI, but its Completing DQI Online online. use will need to be organised by somebody A DQI facilitator can be There are several ways to from the project delivery team. After a The DQI leader obtains the used to take respondents complete the DQI. Users project team decides to use the DQI they results of the process through the process over so far have indicated that appoint a DQI leader who registers the instantly for discussion in the telephone. the most beneficial assessment and distributes the relevant Use of the DQI is accessed by project keys. a later part of the meeting. approach is when all As respondents complete information to the respondents. Every assessment will have two 8-digit respondents complete the After the DQI is complete, the DQI, the leader keys, one for the DQI leader, which tool in a facilitated face-to- the facilitator initiates receives the results and Depending upon the number of registers the project, and one for all the DQI face workshop. However, discussion about the feeds them back. The stakeholders in a project, the DQI should respondents which ensures the data goes with DQI Online the DQI results. team should be able to be completed by 5 to 25 DQI respondents, to the right project. can also be completed discuss the results with but there is no limit placed on this number. remotely – an approach the facilitator in a telephone The keys can be used to link DQI particularly suitable when conference, a ‘virtual We also recommend the use of a DQI assessments together to construct the using the DQI in the later classroom’, or at the next facilitator who has been trained to assist whole DQI project and see how opinions stages of a project. team meeting. in the use of the DQI. There is more about have progressed through the life of the the role of the facilitator on page 10. project.

Using DQI Online How can I use DQI Online? The tool operates on a pay-as-you-go DQI Online is designed to be self DQI Online is at basis, so it can be used as often as explanatory with the all guidance available www.dqi.org.uk needed, it is also possible to buy a carnet. to download. Access may be bought online making the payment using a credit card, or direct from CIC.

08 09 DQI facilitators The future of the DQI

Many construction professionals now There are two types of facilitator: The DQI tool has been developed with input from a wide variety realise that good facilitation is essential at – Independent individuals who wish to the early stages of a project to help develop of sources, in order to gather the best intelligence on the issue assist organisations to use the DQI ideas of stakeholders into workable briefs. of design quality, and on how to assess inherent design quality. – Nominated individuals within In the early stages of a project use of an organisations who wish to facilitate the Since the Trailblazing launch, the DQI has been continually external facilitator is recommended. CIC use of the DQI on their own building improved by the users of the tool. hosts a list of trained professionals. Later projects in the project the DQI leader could act as Short-term aims include refining the output to help further facilitator if they have undertaken training. How to become a facilitator As use of the DQI grows, further facilitators enlighten building procurement teams about the design quality Facilitation also provides a link between will be needed. Each DQI facilitator needs of their buildings through use of DQI Online and the rapid use of the tool and its future development. to attend a workshop to find out more CIC has worked with CABE’s enablers and information about the DQI and how to use feedback that is possible. professionals in the industry to train people it. To keep up to date on advancements in the use of the tool. with the tool and good practice in process Medium-term aims include harvesting data from the accumulated measurement facilitators will need to attend returns so that we can begin to correlate quality with factors in A Register of Facilitators will be developed retraining sessions. by CIC, providing information about the procurement process. We should also be able to see experience and areas of expertise of all DQI Details of workshops can be found by patterns by examining the data longitudinally – for instance by facilitators. Any user of the DQI can contact contacting the CIC on 020 7399 7424 CIC for the nomination of a facilitator. or [email protected] comparing sets of post-occupancy evaluations with briefing and with design stage evaluations. The aim for the DQI over the next four years is to become a self-funding tool, used on most projects to help with the delivery of better quality buildings for clients and users and the public.

10 11 use 2.5 construction access 2.0 DQI in use Case study1: 1.5

1.0 engineering space 0.5 Strategic briefing stage 0.0 character performance and innovation The British Library Centre for Conservation urban and social form and integration materials internal environment

During the Trailblazer period the DQI has The Centre of Conservation We undertook the DQI The DQI will be revisited once been used by 86 organisations consisting is the capital project that the workshop in a collective way a has been appointed. of design firms, public and private clients British Library has undertaken prior to stage A of the two It will be incorporated as a and contractors, including Buro Happold, since it moved to St Pancras stage design and build contract. checklist against the client’s in the early 1990’s The stakeholders who attended original aspirations and will The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, were the project sponsor, head be used as a benchmark The decision to use the DQI Edward Cullinan Architects, Penoyre and of conservation, head of sound, throughout the construction on this project was initiated Prasad Architects, Skanska, Hoare Lea and library project architect, project process. by Drivas Jonas, the project Partners, Bennetts Associates Architects, manager, architectural advisor, managers, and hosted by DLE and Drivers Jonas and 17 local authorities. services and Davis Langdon & Everest, both intend to continue the with DLE acting as DQI the cost consultants for the use of the DQI, and hope facilitator. We felt that the The DQI has been used on a diverse project who were already to incorporate it, when workshop format was essential range of projects; the most popular being Trailblazers. appropriate, in value and to ensure the collation of education (40% of DQI use) private offices risk management studies “We followed advice from CABE data and the generation of (20%) and social housing (10%). at project briefing stage.” to use the DQI on this project conversation, and it worked well. as the British Library specifically The DQI provides a framework Maria Kliniotou Complementing work by the Audit wants to commission a quality to determine the aspirations Davis Langdon & Everest Commission who use the DQI to compare building, and we had used the and needs for each participant PFI and non-PFI schools, local authorities tool before on other projects. Jonathan Gibson distinguishing individual such as Devon CC and Barnsley MBC The Centre of Conservation is Drivers Jonas interpretations of ‘design are using the DQI in bundled PFI projects to be a centre of excellence quality’. The different reinforcing the reputation of the to help individual schools articulate their perceptions under the three British Library as the world’s needs to design teams and assess the headings of build quality, leading institution for restoring tender outputs. functionality and impact worked and conserving books, very well, and at this stage the manuscripts and sound functionality of the building recordings. The client wants was identified as important. it to be an acclaimed design, In addition issues such as the but also create a functional necessity for natural daylight, environment for the specialist the level of control users working conditions required for will have on their personal conservation and sound, and environment, and the aesthetic also to establish a balanced integration with the British relationship with the existing Library were highlighted as flagship building and its key to the stakeholders. The surroundings. DQI allowed for a language to be initiated between the professional and lay stakeholders.

12 13 use use 2.5 2.5 construction access construction access 2.0 2.0

Case study 2: 1.5 Case study 3: 1.5

1.0 1.0 engineering space engineering space 0.5 0.5 Design briefing stage 0.0 Mid-design stage 0.0 performance character performance character and innovation and innovation Parliament Hill School Doha and Chennai Embassies

urban and social form and urban and social form and integration materials integration materials internal internal environment environment Doha

use Haverstock Associates are The workshop took place The DQI questionnaire provided The Foreign and as DFID and the MOD, and 2.5 construction access a medium sized architectural during the early design stage a well structured framework for Commonwealth Office’s also proposed users and local 2.0 1.5 firm based in Camden, (RIBA stages A–B) of the project. the discussions, and raised overseas estate consists of architects engaged on the 1.0 engineering space London. They are committed The participants consisted of issues which could otherwise over 4,300 properties ranging project. 0.5 to design quality and ensuring the LEA senior technical officer have been overlooked. It also from substantial office blocks 0.0 At Chennai we performed performance character that their buildings improve engineer, our mechanical added value for the client as to garages for vehicles, and and innovation the DQI at the pre-contract the lives of the people who engineer, two LEA project the DQI enlightened them to includes offices, residential design development stage; accommodation for staff and urban and social form and use them. John Jenkins, managers and an LEA the thought process behind integration materials we held a facilitated workshop internal a founding partner of educational inspector; school our design. amenity facilities. Its global environment in the UK consisting of all the practice, initiated facilities manager, planner, network of Posts play a vital Chennai Our next step will be to revisit relevant stakeholders, the UK Haverstock’s signing up governors, teachers, senior role in promoting the United the DQI results through a further project management team, as a Trailblazer through his school management and Kingdom’s interests abroad. workshop to see if our design the architect and the structural involvement as a CABE students. It proved invaluable solutions match the aspirations The FCO is fully committed engineer. Additionally, local Commissioner. in bringing together a range and perceptions brought about to improving design standards users completed the DQI of influential individuals at such Parliament Hill secondary by the original process. We recognising that good design questionnaire. an early stage of the project. school is situated in a intend to revisit the DQI process also achieves value for It made everybody aware of the The workshop generated conservation area near regularly throughout the money. This commitment led initial design development that wide-ranging debate that Hampstead Heath, London. construction process and to the FCO registering as a had been undertaken and opened allowed us to ensure all views will continue to use it on DQI Trailblazer. “We won the contract through up lines of communication by and requirements of the future education projects.” a competitive tender process introducing all the different “We have performed the DQI stakeholders were incorporated original design aspirations and with Camden Borough Council. individuals who would have process on two of our newly into the design process. It was to re-evaluate their importance. John Jenkins A condition of the project set an involvement with the building planned Missions in Doha and useful as it allowed opinions Claire Barton From our use of the DQI on the out by the Local Education at some point in its life time. Chennai and are committed to to be collated in a generic Haverstock Associates Doha Embassy, which initially Authority (LEA) was that Design It also enabled us to carry out using it on our new British language and evoked debate became a redundant design Quality Indicators would need further consultation to find out Embassy, Warsaw. The process about design priorities. We due to a change of allocated to be applied. The LEA brief what types of modern buildings evoked debate and conversation found it identified certain site, we are now able to use the commissioned the design people liked and disliked, so between the many stakeholders requirements, which ordinarily results from the original scheme and supervision of new school we could get an idea of what as to the buildings’ design may not have been considered. as a secondary brief for the new accommodation, the scope type of building/s and materials specifications. Not only do A typical example were site, and as a checklist to see and brief to be decided after people really felt they wanted need to be fit-for- questionnaires received from that the different stakeholder completion of a feasibility to see in the end product. purpose and take into account users who asked the simple views have not changed. study, accessibility audit and The information gained from the local environment, they also question of where could staff curriculum analysis, subject this process was a vital part need to fulfil the requirements of store their bicycles and The FCO is committed to using to planning and budgetary of our brief. other Government Departments scooters. In Chennai these are the DQI. The DQI rating process constraints. represented at the Post. This essential forms of transport and has recently been included into process ensures effective the value added to the users the key stage review process delivery of ‘joined-up’ by incorporating space is for individual projects.” Government. As well as unparalleled! We plan to revisit individual FCO Departments, the DQI results throughout Peter Finch stakeholders may include other the design and construction Mike Kelly Government Departments, such process to benchmark the FCO

14 15 use 2.5 construction access 2.0 Glossary Case study 4: 1.5

1.0 engineering space 0.5 In-use 0.0 performance character and innovation Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre

urban and social form and integration materials internal environment

Southwark The stakeholders who Using the DQI at the post- AEDET National Health Service, Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation Toolkit Service is an urban local participated were two project occupancy stage on Peckham BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method authority renowned for its managers, an architect, Pulse has provided us with CABE Commission for and the Built Environment – www.cabe.org.uk approach to the design quality contractor, client, three facilities valuable benchmarking criteria, CE Constructing Excellence – www.constructingexcellence.org.uk of the environment. This managers and a user of the which we are using on future CIC Construction Industry Council – www.cic.org.uk commitment led them to centre. Due to the lapse of projects.” DEEP Defence Estates, Design Excellence Evaluation Process be awarded the 2002 RIBA time since completion it proved DQI Design Quality Indicator – www.dqi.org.uk Local Authority Award. difficult reconvening everyone, Patricia O’Reilly but despite the initial Southwark Building DTI Department for Trade and Industry – www.dti.gov.uk Peckham Pulse Healthy Living organisational problems the Design Service EPI Environmental Performance Indicators Centre was built to encourage workshop was thought by KPI Key Performance Indicators – www.kpizone.com local people to get fit and everyone a success. The OGC Office of Government Commerce – www.ogc.gov.uk stay healthy. Inspired by construction team really enjoyed PFI Public Finance Initiative the Peckham Pioneer Health talking to the users as to how Centre of the 1930s, it RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects – www.architecture.com the building was working, and explores the link between SPeAR Arup’s Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine they were very enthusiastic to social and physical well being be involved in a DQI process and preventing disease. For a full list of DQI links please see www.dqi.org.uk again. “We performed the DQI on The participants found the DQI Peckham Pulse four years after process very interesting. They completion. We thought it all felt that it was a necessity would be interesting to see how to identify the delights in a the building, which is esteemed project. The overall design of for design quality, would rate Peckham Pulse scored highly using the tool. It was also an in the DQI. We did, however excellent opportunity to get manage to identify certain everyone involved in the aspects which didn’t score construction process back well regarding the layout, together. which came as a surprise, and The DQI was performed as a mechanical services, which may facilitated workshop. Through reflect the ensuing maintenance all of our DQI experiences we regime rather than the original have found facilitation essential design. We found the to gain the maximum benefit ‘weighting’ element of the DQI from the DQI process. I have very important in prioritising trained as a facilitator which what were the most important was cost effective and helped issues. Without this dimension increase the clarity of the DQI budgetary and planning to the participants. restraints could not be taken into account.

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