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TAP’s focus over the past several years on the inevitable
technologies of building information models (BIM), collaboration,
and interoperability has contributed to a sea change in the
AIA’s thinking about the future of architectural practice. It
has become clear that technological advancements are heralding
revolutionary change in the design and construction industry. The
Institute has recognized the importance of the scope and magnitude
of this change through its creation of a new focus area, Integrated
Practice. This new area will build on the work of the TAP community
by focusing not just on building information modeling and related
technology topics, but also on changes to business models, project
delivery, leveraging of knowledge early in the project,
collaboration techniques, risk management and compensation, and
more.
One of four 2006 AIA vice presidents, Norman Strong, FAIA, has
been selected to lead the charge with this emerging issue of
integrated practice. Norman also chairs the Integrated Practice
Strategy Working Group (IPSWG), which brings together all the
knowledge communities and committees within the AIA—from
Documents to TAP—who will be directly involved in this
redefinition of practice. TAP AG members Jim Bedrick, AIA, and
Steve Hagan, FAIA, are participating.
One sign of this transformation was the plenary session at the
2005 convention, entitled “Building Information Modeling”
and moderated by Daniel S. Friedman, FAIA. The panel laid out a
compelling case for reevaluation of practice models, citing such
motivating factors as:
- Inefficiencies in design, communication, and
construction
- Cost and schedule overruns
- Decreased quality
- Advancements in technology
- Owner demand.
William P. Tibbitt, executive director of Worldwide Engineering
Services of Johnson & Johnson, represented the owner
perspective. Owners, through the work of the A/E productivity
committee of the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), have come to
the realization that inefficiency costs are a direct consequence of
not having an effective way to share information early in the
design and construction process. He told the audience that owners
are no longer willing to absorb these costs when they know powerful
technology is available to overcome the inefficiencies of
traditional practice.
Perhaps the most stunning comments came from Thom Mayne, FAIA,
principal of Morphosis and 2005 Pritzker Prize winner ( 2005 BIM
Award winner, too!): “Prepare yourself for a profession you
are not going to recognize a decade from now. Survival—if you
want to survive you will change. You will not practice architecture
if you are not up to speed with [BIM].”
It is early days yet, but IPSWG has created a definition of
integrated practice: “Integrated practice leverages early
contributions of knowledge through utilization of new technologies,
allowing architects to better realize their highest potentials as
designers and collaborators while expanding the value they
provide.”
IPSWG has also identified a number of practice areas that will
be transformed:
- Design tools
- Agreements
- Collaboration
- Compensation
- Risk management
- Technologies
- Documentation techniques
- Procurement models
- Life-cycle involvement
- Education
- Early knowledge
- Decision-making tools.
Obviously, there is much work to be done. Norman Strong believes
that there is a brief window of opportunity—less than 5
years—to seize a leadership role and ensure that this
transformation of the design and construction industry elevates the
role of the architect. Both Edges and AIArchitect will be providing
ongoing coverage of this revolutionary initiative.
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