THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATIVE DESIGN Jennifer E. Cross, Stephanie K. Barr, and Reanna Putnam with Brian H. Dunbar and Josette M. Plaut ABSTRACT The Integrative Design Process (IDP) has the potential to radically change the way that decisions are made in building design and construction and improve project success and efficacy. However, integrative design projects often fail to realize success because optimal team structure is not achieved. How can we create and facilitate successful teams? In this paper, we analyze current integrative design process, offer a sharp, new understanding of team integration, and provide clear steps to optimize facilitation of project teams. We enhance existing knowledge on the integrative process by using social network science to define optimal team structure, why it is critical to success, and how to create it. Authors Jennifer E. Cross, Ph.D. [email protected] Director of Research, Institute for the Built Environment Associate Professor of Sociology, Colorado State University Stephanie K. Barr, M.S., LEED AP BD+C [email protected] Research Associate & Project Manager, Institute for the Built Environment Colorado State University Reanna Putnam Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Sociology Sustainable Building Associate, Institute for the Built Environment Colorado State University Contributors Brian H. Dunbar, M.Arch, LEED Fellow Executive Director, Institute for the Built Environment Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University Josette M. Plaut, M.S., LEED AP BD+C Associate Director, Institute for the Built Environment Colorado State University Citation Cross, J.E., Barr, S., Putnam, R., Dunbar, B. & Plaut, J. (2015). The Social Network of Integrative Design. Institute for the Built Environment, Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO. Acknowledgements Thank you to all research participants who graciously shared their time and insight. We are also very thankful to the following individuals for sharing their perspectives and providing a critical review of this paper: John Mlade, Senior Sustainability Manager, YR&G Barbara Ciesla, Senior Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle Max Zahniser, Founder, CEO, Praxis Building Solutions April Brown, Projects Manager, Institute for the Built Environment Funding The research reported in this publication was supported by The Energy Institute at Colorado State University. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Energy Institute. THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATIVE DESIGN | 3 Copyright © 2015 by Institute for the Built Environment, Colorado State University All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from The Institute for the Built Environment. ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT The mission of the Institute for the Built Environment (IBE) is to advance the development of healthy, thriving built environments. We are based at Colorado State University and form interdisciplinary teams of on-campus faculty and students and off-campus professionals to take research to practice. 4 | INSTITUTE FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY CONTENTS Preface 6 Section 1 | The Research 7 Definitions 8 The Integrative Design Process | Gaps & Opportunities 9 Defining Social Networks 10 The Research on Networks & Innovation 11 Key Principles of Integrative Networks 12 Applying the Principles to Building Design & Construction Teams 13 Section 2 | In Practice 17 Application | Phase by Phase Guidance 19 The Phases of the Integrative Design Process 20 Reading Network Diagrams 21 1. Programming 22 2. Schematic 24 4. Design Development 26 5. Construction Documentation 28 6. Construction Administration 30 7. Occupancy 32 Summary 33 Citations 35 THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATIVE DESIGN | 5 PREFACE Social Network Science: A New Perspective for Understanding the Integrative Design Process Brian Dunbar, Executive Director, Institute for the Built Environment Since 1994 IBE has assisted project teams in in formal research interviews about integrative pursuing high performance green building design projects, as well as colleagues in dialogue through facilitation, technical assistance, and that have helped to refine the concepts presented LEED management. We have been committed here. IBE provided Dr. Cross with subject-matter to the integrative design process (IDP) since our knowledge while the social network theories she inception. Our belief is that successful projects shared with us helped us to gain a more refined use a collaborative process and “no one of us is as understanding about the key features of the IDP. smart as all of us.” As a result, we now have a well-developed science- based methodology for proactively developing and We are not a design firm, though we are often analyzing the quality of our IDP facilitation. called into projects to provide facilitation and LEED management, which allows the architecture This paper is the result of our collective team to focus on design, listening, and active endeavor to answer the question, what approach collaboration. Even though we have strived to consistently yields high-functioning collaborative follow IDP best practices, we have observed that teams that are capable of optimizing systems and there is often something indefinable about how unlocking the highest performance? the team functions that can result in greater or lesser degrees of success. As we have worked on We believe integrative design done well more projects, we have sought to understand the markers of successful projects so that we can leads to better decisions faster. replicate best practices on all our projects. With the ideas embedded in this paper, Since 2009, Dr. Jennifer Cross has been conducting architects and owners can take a leading research on the social network structure of role in implementing the integrative innovative teams. We first began discussing the integrative design process with Dr. Cross when process on every project. This can be she was conducting case studies on integrative foundational to how we all do business. projects, some of which were projects we facilitated. The content of this white paper is the result of the collaborative thinking between IBE and Dr. Cross. We have been reflecting on our own practice and working to identify the key traits that differentiate the best integrative design projects from those that struggled. Simultaneously, Dr. Cross has been interviewing project teams across the country to develop a theoretical framework that captures and maps the social interactions and structure of the best practices for integrative design. During her research projects, the staff at IBE have been both research subjects, participating 6 | INSTITUTE FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Section 1 the research THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATIVE DESIGN | 7 DEFINITIONS Although the terms “integrative” and “integrated” are often used interchangeably, we argue that they have subtle but important differences. We offer these definitions: INTEGRATED DESIGN (ID) An approach that brings whole- INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY (IPD) A contracting systems thinking to building design. It is a collaborative method approach that seeks to formalize integrated design in order involving diverse stakeholders which emphasizes designing to optimize project results. This contractual strategy may use all the systems together, rather than sequentially, in order to either integrated design or and integrative process, but is not ensure they work in harmony. synonymous with either.[2] INTEGRATIVE DESIGN PROCESS (IDP) Like integrated design, INNOVATION Something new or different is introduced, this process uses a whole-systems approach and involves a such as a new method, process, material, device, or system. diverse group of stakeholders; however, it is also a process In building projects, there are numerous opportunities for of discovery that evolves and is never really finished. Where innovation, from processes used in design to interaction integrated design is more formulaic, Integrative Process is between design team members and building stakeholders or changing and dynamic, varying from one project to the next. vendors to choices made throughout the design process. [1] 8 | INSTITUTE FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY THE INTEGRATIVE DESIGN PROCESS Gaps & Opportunities Integrative design (ID) has become increasingly that ID is not just a process, but a mindset that sought after, particularly for planning and building requires inclusion and collaboration, trust and projects pursuing high performance goals. ID transparency, open-mindedness and creativity, seeks to overcome the problems in a linear design continuous learning and improvement, orientation process by using a systems approach. ID typically toward outcomes, and rigor and attention to includes a greater number of collaborative cross- detail. Research on integrative approaches has disciplinary meetings in an effort to break down shown that early collaboration between team silos and increase communication. However, members can be beneficial to project budget we have found that it is not enough to just have and schedule by reducing the time spent in later more diverse team membership and/or run a few stages of design and construction[2, 4], as well as charrettes. Instead, it is the