Garmston, H; Pan, W and de Wilde, P (2012) Decision-making in façade selection for multi-storey buildings. In: Smith, S D (ed.) Proceedings of 28th Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2012, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
The design and construction of multi-storey buildings faces a multitude of demands such as aesthetics, cost, energy efficiency, and occupier comfort; with façades on both new and re-used buildings playing a key role in helping to meet these demands. The process of façade selection is aided by a plethora of decision-making tools, yet façade decisions are often largely guided by cost and aesthetics. Poorly specified façades can potentially expose developers, owners and occupiers of multi-storey buildings to risks such as poor thermal comfort, glare, and increased operational costs. The aim of this paper is to explore the current state of façade decision-making, with the objectives of discovering who is making the decisions and when, and what problems are perceived and what potential solutions might exist. Literature pertaining to façades, multi-storey buildings and façade decision-making is reviewed. Experience of façade decision-making in today’s construction industry in the UK is collected via semi-structured interviews with construction professionals. The findings show architects as leading the initial façade decisions, with clients and planners making the final decisions. Very few decision-making tools were revealed as being used: namely whole life cost analysis, life cycle cost analysis and simulation. Further research is proposed to define the roles participating in façade decision-making for multi-storey buildings.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building façade; decision-making; multi-storey building |
| Index terms: | energy efficiency, interview, whole life cost, owner, life cycle cost analysis, aesthetic, face, architect, thermal comfort, design and construction, glare, planner, comfort, construction professional, decision-making, construction industry |
| Subjects: | factor and component analysis, economics, professional development, occupational health and safety management, building performance, sociology, decision analysis, industry analysis, financial analysis, environmental engineering, data collection methods, profession, psychology, sustainability and energy, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Organizational Design, Health and Safety, Cost Management, Information Management, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Sustainability, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here