Integrated design and building process: What research and methodologies are needed?

The integrated design process encompasses cross-disciplinary teamwork enabling the improved integration of building, community, natural and economic systems and therefore is a key to sustainable design. The needs for further research, methodologies and validation for the integrated design process are considered by two design practitioners. A workable, replicable model demonstrating the costs and benefits is argued as having an enormous positive impact on the environment and the design and procurement processes. Assessment of some recent initiatives in Canada, Finland and the United States examines progress and identifies further research and practical needs. An agenda for research on integrated design processes is proposed, along with methodologies to codify practice.