The Integrated Design Process on Paper and In Practice: A Case Study

The use of an integrated design process is encouraged or required by a number of green building certifications, but many design and construction professionals have very limited knowledge about how to practice integrated design. This paper compares the integrated design process as practiced on one design project in mid-sized urban center in the Midwestern United States to the process outlined in the ANSI/MTS 1.0 Whole Systems Integrated Process Guide (WSIP)-2007 for Sustainable Buildings & Communities© (WSIP Guide). The project observed for this case study included a feasibility assessment regarding achievability of three green building certifications (LEED®, Living Building Challenge and 2030 Challenge) and the development of up to three conceptual designs. The design firm hired to lead the project facilitated a firm-developed integrated design process. While the design firm included many of the practices recommended in the WSIP Guide, there were also points where the process deviated from recommended practice.