Integration of building physics expertise in the building delivery process: A case study

Abstract

Buildings’ energy efficiency objectives, environmental impact considerations, and thermal comfort requirements necessitate the integration of input from domain experts into the building planning and delivery process. However, there is little knowledge about the extent to which this occurs in the everyday practice. The present contribution addresses this issue in terms of a real-life case study involving the building planning process of a large-scale residential complex in Vienna, Austria. Thereby, the participation of domain experts in performance-related design decision-making was monitored throughout different planning stages. Specifically, the role of criteria related to building physics in planning modifications were documented. Whereas some modifications were made to meet code-based minimum requirements, others involved either voluntarily implemented or client-driven performance improvements. Furthermore, participants in the planning process (architects, building physics consultant, construction site manager, project developer) were interviewed to gain insights regarding their professional attitude toward the project in general and the interdisciplinary collaboration in particular. Given the standing of the case study subject as a typical contemporary large-scale housing project, the findings provide useful insights regarding the depth of interdisciplinary practices in general and the role of building physics experts in particular.