DBIA IQ Summer 2012 - (Page 3)

LeADershIp refLectIoNs// Design Excellence: a Matter of Perspective reseArch shows coNcLusIveLy that designbuild enhances value, saves time and money, maintains high quality and achieves sustainability. Yet myths such as “Architects play a subordinate role” and “The design-build process compromises design excellence” persist. As a result, many owners mistakenly select traditional forms of delivery. The most effective way to dispel a myth is to provide tangible evidence to the contrary. So in 2011, DBIA bestowed its first Excellence in Design Award. The criteria for the award were developed with an expert jury of fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Societ y of Landscape A rchitects (ASLA), as well as representatives of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Building Operations (OBO). They urged DBIA to identify characteristics that “push a project over the top.” In addition to meeting the strenuous requirements of DBIA’s existing awards program, the jury held that a project deserving of the Excellence in Design Award must meet the owner’s aesthetic goals and vision in a manner that is holistic, sustainable and state-of-the-art, while incorporating these qualities in a memorable design that provides a building of enduring value to the owners and the community. The jury identified two projects worthy of recognition in 2011. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., received a citation as a “tour de force in sustainable design that embodies an aesthetic that reflects both technological innovations and the owners’ desire to inspire others to reach the same high standard.” But the winner of the DBIA Excellence in Design Award, the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building at the University of California in San Francisco, stands out even in a city known for its architectural landmarks. The project’s unusual serpentine design is a holistic response to the narrow, steeply sloping site and the curves of nearby streets. Among the many contributions made by the design-build team, the owner noted “the invention, fabrication and installation of ingenious mechanical devices to prevent overturn in an earthquake.” The innovative, beautiful building succeeds in all disciplines and demonstrates that design-build is not only capable of delivering design excellence, but can further it. DBIA found numerous definitions of design excellence, ranging from attributes espoused by the AIA to those outlined by federal owners such as the GSA and the State Department. Even within DBIA, varying perspectives exist. DBIA’s Water/Wastewater Markets Committee recently expanded the definition of design excellence beyond aesthetics to include sustainability goals, safety features and the community’s perception of the project. With varying views on the topic, two things are clear: Design excellence can and should be part of every design-build project, regardless of budget or other constraints. Secondly, each sector and owner defines design excellence differently. As we continue to educate the industry about the power of design-build, DBIA will help owners and design-build teams understand how the process can further their unique vision of excellence. By Lisa Washington, caE LISa WaShInGton IS a cErtIfIED aSSocIatIon EXEcutIvE (caE) WIth MorE than 15 yE arS of aSSocIatIon ManaGEMEnt EXpErIEncE. dbia.org summer//2012 3 http://www.dbia.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DBIA IQ Summer 2012

DBIA IQ Summer 2012