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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

The Influence of the Interdisciplinary Design on the Success of Construction Projects

Name

University of Sharjah

Author Note

Jason B, Statham, Department of Architecture, University of Sharjah.

This research paper was completed in fulfilment of the course requirement,

ENG207, at the University of Sharjah.

Please address correspondence to the author: Jason Statham, Department of

Architecture, University of Sharjah, UAE. Email: Jason.Statham@yahoo.com

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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

Contents
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3
Research Methodology ............................................................................................................ 4
Theory ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 6
Discussion.................................................................................................................................. 8
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 10
References ................................................................................................................................ 11
Appendix .................................................................................................................................. 13
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

Abstract

This research paper expounds on the influence of the early involvement of the structural

designers and contractors on the fulfilment of architectural requirements. The paper will

present a brief background of the different attributes related to both fields, civil engineering

and architecture. It will further shed light on the design process, and early collaboration and

communication, with a focus on the initial design phase. The contribution of design

collaborations among architects, structural designers, and contractors to the minimization of

architectural design change, is also highlighted. Upon being involved early on, not only will

civil engineers, being the structural designers and constructors, assist in fulfilling the aesthetic

requirements, but they may also provide more room for aesthetic creativity, cost savings, and

shorter project duration.

Introduction

In the pre-modern times, the design of a building has been carried out only by one

individual, namely the master-mason. The latter is typically a polymath with a wide knowledge

in the fields of architecture, structural design, and construction. Due to the lack of complex

construction projects at that time, the master mason, also called master builder, was able to

handle a full construction project on their own. However, with the era of industrialization and

modernization, a high demand for complex buildings kicked in and consequently the

construction process necessitated a much more complex process. Moreover, the presence of

high-tech machinery due to unprecedented advancements in science and technology amplified

the urge for complex structures. Thus, the design and construction of a structure required

specialized individuals from different fields, and therefore what used to be an individual work

accomplished by the master builder alone is now the responsibility of three different parties:

the architect, the structural engineer, and the constructor or contractor. Although more
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

effective, the distribution of work among the above-mentioned entities has brought about

several problems, most importantly, is the collaboration and communication among the

different working parties. If multi-disciplinary collaboration is maintained at the early phase of

the project, not only will the project satisfy all the architectural requirements, but there may

also be more room for cost savings, less design modifications, improved buildability, and

definitely a shorter project life span.

Research Methodology

This research investigates several journal articles that examine the traditional design

approach versus the modern one. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the advantages of the

modern approach in general, which is characterized by the multi-disciplinary collaboration at

the early phase of the project, as opposed to the separation of design and construction, an

attribute of the traditional design approach. This paper is an exploratory investigation of the

available literature on early involvement of contractors and design collaborations. The research

method implemented in this study was to search keywords in architectural and civil engineering

databases, such as ScienceDirect, ASCE, Art Abstracts, etc. Upon investigating the available

relevant literature, an argumentative synthesis is drawn, presenting my point of view, and

supported by a combination of ideas and facts from the cited source materials.
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

Theory
As shown in Figure 1, which shows a traditional supply chain of a structural timber

building, a real estate developer or the client in general requires an architect to decide upon the

outer look, inner theme, and functioning of the building. The architect, upon coordination with

the client, will prepare a full set of detailed architectural layouts and pass it down to the

structural engineer who will in turn analyse the structure as a whole in order to make sure that

the proposed architectural layouts are structurally sound and viable. The structural engineer

will further prepare a full set of structural drawings and upload to the municipality portal for

approval. Once the architectural and structural drawings are approved by governmental

authorities, the main contractor is nominated often by the client, and rarely by the consultant.

The main contractor may sometimes need to hire specialists, subcontractors, suppliers, etc.

Although not shown in this figure, and depending on the project’s budget, type, duration, and

size, the consultant may need to hire sub-consultants in order to assist in drawing the structural

details of the project, and the lead architect may also hire third-party designers if needed.

However, for small scale to medium scale projects, usually there is only one architect and a

single consulting firm. There are two main problems with this traditional design process. First

is that the design process ends with the issuance of the approved architectural and structural

drawings, leaving the contracting firm along with its sub-contractors uninvolved in the design

process, which may result in several constructability issues. Secondly, due to the design process

being led mainly by architects, many different technical consideration and structural

requirements are not fully accounted for in the initial architectural design concept, which may

lead to costly and time-consuming changes and design modifications in the future (Yeager,

2016).
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

Literature Review

Düzgün and Aladag (2015) associate the presence of the integrated collaborative design

approach with overpopulation and urbanization, and the increasing demand for sustainable

building design. Factors that gave rise to the integrated design process, are not limited to

overpopulation and urbanization, but also includes economic changes, technological

advancements, and finally environmental degradation. In a study that attempts to investigate

the key success factors of sustainable construction projects, Düzgün and Aladag (2015) have

identified the interdisciplinary design process as a tool towards a successful completion of such

projects. The differences of the conventional and integrated design processes have been

discussed as well in the study. Düzgün and Aladag conducted a comprehensive investigation

of existing literature, and the fruits of their study was represented by a roadmap of the

integrated design process, showing all the milestones needed to reach a sustainable design. The

authors argue that the “collaborative involvement and teamwork among different disciplines

that is required for architectural design process is vital for creating sustainable buildigs” (p.

247). They further argue that the complexity of modern construction projects has made the

interdisciplinary design process a vital tool for the construction of sustainable buildings.

Moreover, Sødal, Laedre, Svalestuen, & Lohne, (2014) conducted a total of nine semi-

structured interviews with key designers and construction managers. Open-ended questions

were asked to interviewees, and free conversations were allowed to reveal their honest opinions

about the integration of design and construction especially at the early design phase. Based on

a thorough literature review, along with other open-ended surveys with subcontractors, and

non-management participants, Sødal et al (2014) listed a number of advantages associated with

the early involvement of contractors in the design phase, among those are: Improved

constructability, better product information, improved risk management, and better

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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

construction plan. In this study, no distinct disadvantages were associated with the contractor’s

early involvement.

Similarly, Gosselin, Blanchet, Lehoux, & Cimon (2018) conducted twenty-seven semi-

structured interviews with architects, structural designers, civil constructors, and timber

suppliers to investigate the complexity of the supply chain relationships enclosing innovative

timber structures. In Gosselin et al.’s (2018) qualitative data analysis, it was found that a

multitude of strong relationships between the different stakeholders of a structural timber

project needs to be maintained. Gosselin et al. (2018) argued that “thinking about a value

network rather than a linear chain and favouring collaboration between members of the network

rather than simple transactional relationships” is indispensable to strengthening expertise and

the implication of knowledge transfer, among the different “camps” (p. 14).

Moreover, Yeager (2016) carried a structural analysis of the Salford Meadows Bridge

to investigate the influence of the late entry of the structural engineers in the design process.

She claims that the design process generally “is architect-led with the technical experts entering

the process after the major design decisions have been made. As a result, structural

requirements and other technical considerations are too often left out of the conceptual design

proposals, leading to extensive design changes and costly structural issues to resolve before the

structure can be realized” (p. iii). Through her structural analysis of the bridge, Yeager

identified several discrepancies between the architect’s model and the structural engineer’s

analysis. She listed two main problems with the structural design of the bridge: The out of

plane forces, and the bridge form and the structural misbehaviour of the arch. She concludes

her study with associating these problems with the lack of collaboration between the structural

and architectural designers in the early design phase.

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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

While most of the literature seems to be in support of an integrated design approach,

several challenges exist towards its implementation. According to Sødal et al (2014), such

approach is still unclear on who should lead the design process or be given the utmost power

to make the decision? In addition, Luyten (2012) claims that for creativity to take place, not

only do architects and structural designers need to work as a united interdisciplinary design

team, but they also need to obtain a thorough knowledge of both disciplines, structural

engineering and architecture.

Discussion

Clearly, the advantages of establishing a high level of collaboration among the different

camps during the initial design phase are numerous (Gould & Joyce, 2011; Yeager, 2016).

However, there seems to be several challenges to the implementation of such approach. One of

the most significant challenges is the opposing interests of the involved parties. Clearly, the

interests of the architect are not in line with those of the contractor or the structural engineer.

Each one of them has different and even opposing interests and priorities. Cost minimization

and shorter project schedule even at the cost of innovation and quality is generally the aim of

the contractor. While the structural engineer’s main focus is safety and clarity. Also, innovative

architectural designs tend to have complex features which require advanced or even unusual

modelling techniques that the structural engineer may struggle with. Thomas (2006), asserts

that without the involvement of contractors in the early design phase, the architect is allowed

a high level of interdependency and freedom to develop innovative concepts, without being

limited by cost and schedule.

However, while this disconnect between architects and contractors may boost

innovation, it may also give rise to a tedious and costly construction process. This imbalance

between innovation and constructability is associated with the traditional design process, in
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

which structural engineers are not given sufficient power on the design table as architects.

Moreover, and as previously mentioned, the structural engineer is sometimes involved late in

the design process, when compared to the architect. Therefore, the constructability reviews that

the structural engineer produces to minimize the disconnect between conceptual design and

construction occur too late, and therefore tend to have no improvements on the initial

architectural design (Forbes, & Ahmed, 2011). Now, to maintain a fruitful multidisciplinary

collaboration between architects and structural designers, both participants need to have wide

knowledge of the opposite discipline (Luyten, 2009). The presence of structurally informed

architects and architecturally informed engineers will give rise to a more effective

communication mode, and thus shorter design phase, which will improve the entire value of

the project.

Another issue that could arise from a cross-disciplinary design process is the conflict

over the lead of design process, and decision-making power (Sødal et al., 2014). All

participants would want to dominate the design process and tilt the design scale in their favour.

To establish harmonious relationships among the key participants, the use of an external project

management consultancy firm, shortened as PMC, has been suggested, especially in large scale

construction projects (Nikumbh & Pimplikar, 2014). In fact, a PMC is not only utilized in the

initial design phase to create a balance among the key participants, but “is effective and

efficient only when it is involved in Total Project Life Cycle from Conception to Closeout”

(Kumbhar, Desai & Gupta, 2017, p.340). According to Kumbhar et al. (2017), further argues

that upon the adoption of a well-organized approach, a PMC is able to assist in resolving

challenges related to design issues, constructability issues, communication and coordination

issues, safety issues and long-lead material issues. However, the privilege of having a PMC in

operation comes at an additional cost that the client has to pay. Therefore, it is advisable to hire
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

a PMC only for large scale projects, in which the cost of hiring the consultancy firm is

negligible when compared to the benefits harvested from its services.

Conclusion
The main conclusion of this paper is that there seems to be more benefits and

advantages to adopting an integrated interdisciplinary design approach than a separated

conventional one, especially in the presence of a PMC. Advantages of an interdisciplinary

approach includes, but not limited to, improved constructability, improved cost estimation,

realistic work schedules, better profitability, and less design changes. Despite the merits of this

approach, a number of challenges stand in the way of its implementation especially for small

scale projects. Among the most important challenges is the opposing interests of the key design

participants. In addition, the need for engineers and architects with in-depth knowledge of the

opposite discipline for ease of communication, also makes this approach a little more

challenging to be adopted. And finally, the natural resistance to change is another challenge

against the implementation of this modern design approach. While the traditional design

process is still prevailing in today’s world, hopefully with the increasing literature on the

subject in question, more people will start to adopt the new approach, which will give rise to a

smoother construction process for a greater number of sustainable projects.

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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

References

Düzgün, H., & Aladag, H. (2015). A ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS:

INTEGRATED DESIGN. Academic Journal Of Science,, 04(02)(CD-ROM. ISSN:

2165-6282), 233–248.

Forbes, L., & Ahmed, S. (2011). Modern construction: Lean project delivery and integrated

practices (Industrial innovation series). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

doi:10.1201/b10260

Gosselin, A., Blanchet, P., Lehoux, N., & Cimon, Y. (2018). Collaboration enables

innovative timber structure adoption in construction. Buildings, 8(12), 183-183.

doi:10.3390/buildings8120183

Gould, F. E., & Joyce, N. E. (2011). Construction project management. Upper Saddle River,

N.J.: Pearson.

Heier Sødahl, Andreas & Lædre, Ola & Svalestuen, Fredrik & Lohne, Jardar. (2014). Early

Contractor Involvement: Advantages and Disadvantages for the Design Team.

Kumbhar, P., Desai, D., & Gupta, A. (2017). Role of Project Management Consultancy

(PMC) and its Effectiveness in Construction Industry. Imperial Journal Of

Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR), Vol-3(Issue-12, (2017), ISSN (O): 2454-1362), 340.

Luyten, L. (2012). Structurally Informed Architectural Design: Proposals for a Creative

Collaboration between Architect and Structural Engineer (Doctoral Dissertation).

Department of Architecture, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden (SE-412 96

Gothenburg)
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Running Head: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN

Luyten, L., (2009). Communication between architect and engineer in a creative

environment. In J. Verbeke & A. Jakimowicz, eds. Communicating (by) Design.

Brussels, 15-17 April 2009. Göteborg, Brussels: Chalmers & Sint-Lucas, pp. 581–590.

Nikumbh, A., & Pimplikar, S.S., (2014). Role of Project Management Consultancy in

Construction Project. IOSR Journal Of Mechanical And Civil Engineering, 10(6), 14-

19. doi: 10.9790/1684-1061419

Thomas, A. (2006). Design-build. Chichester: Wiley-Academy.

Yeager, A. (2016). The Role of the Structural Engineer in the Contemporary Design Process.

Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects. 922. Retrieved from

https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/922
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Appendix

In a study that aimed to investigate the barriers to the market growth of structural timber

projects, Gosselin and Blanchet (2018), identified the complexity of the supply chain of

timber structural projects as major barrier. Refer to Figure 1 for more details on the supply

chain relationships encompassed by a timber structural project.

Figure 1: Supply chain of typical structural timber building. Adapted from "Collaboration Enables Innovative Timber
Structure,” by A. Gosselin, P. Blanchet, N. Lehoux, Y. Cimon (2018), Buildings 8(12), 183-183. Copyright (2018) by the
Creative Commons Attribution