Kieran Timberlake: Refabricating Architecture

The Philadelphia architecture firm Kieran Timberlake is rethinking the way architecture is made. In their 2004 book, Refabricating Architecture, they discuss how they have drawn from the automotive and aerospace industries to learn how to streamline the process of making. Their goal is to re-realize the notion of Master Builder. They criticize the current, segregated model of design, where there primary parties involved (Architect, Contractor, Materials Scientist and Production Engineer) engage in only minimal, hierarchical communication.

"The first act of design in this world beyond the old equilibrium is the redesign of the relations among those responsible for the making of things. The single most devastating consequence of modernism has been the embrace of a process that segregates designers from makers: The architect has been separated from the contractor, and the materials scientist has been isolated from the product engineer."

Integration Gone Mainstream Green

Integrated design plays a crucial role in sustainable design. Many of the green programs or guidelines such as LEED or Minnesota’s B3 take an integrated design process approach to sustainable development. The B3 outlines an integrated design process:

Integrated Design Process Overview

• Assemble appropriate stakeholder team Include representation from every discipline that will be involved in the project: Owner's decision-making team, users, occupants, operations and maintenance representatives, at least one representative from the community, and at least one agency "client" or visitor representative. Also include Owner Representative and commissioning agent if applicable. Choose members who can make a commitment through post-occupancy review phase.
• Establish a Team Roster and Communication Plan outlining who gets copied on what, distributed to all team members. Update each phase and redistribute.
• Conduct planning/ review workshops at each phase with all team members. The goal is exchange between team members, with broad-based input and understanding of the goals and approaches the project will take.
  - Comprehensive Business Planning Workshop at Agency planning phase
  - Programming Workshop during Predesign Programming
  - Facility Performance Workshop within the first 2-3 weeks of the schematic design phase
• Convene multi-disciplinary team at least once per design phase for integrated progress review towards guidelines
• Convene stakeholder team regularly for integrated progress review. Stakeholder team to meet a minimum of once per phase.
• Convene General Contractor and Sub-contractors for pre-construction kick-off meeting to review the MSBG goals and objectives.
• Incorporate discussion about the progress toward project outcomes during every construction meeting.
• Recommended: After occupancy, Facility Operations Manager, Human Resources Manager and others that offer cross disciplinary points of view on Facility Operations shall meet annually to review operation practices, complaints, and building maintenance issues. – Minnesota’s B3 Guidelines http://www.csbr.umn.edu/B3/
  

The design world of sustainability has taken a very proactive approach to engaging a “larger audience.” Is this a good idea for the profession of design? If so, what role does the designer play? Does the role change at all?