Human factors for a successful integrated design process in zero energy buildings: Leadership, trust, and goal orientation: A case study in Singapore

The Integrated Design Process is one of the most recommended methods to deliver Zero-Energy Buildings as it brings together all the stakeholders in the early moments of design, allowing performance optimisation and synergies among the different approaches and expertise. The practice of this design process is complex and difficult because it aims to integrate evolving decisions by all parties. It has been widely studied from the perspective of the process itself and its efficacy. However, the human side or how to manage the collaboration of the different stakeholders in the design development for a Zero Energy Building is unknown. To address this research gap this study is focused on the synergies among the consultants and the purpose behind this kind of building. Through the analysis of the design process and eight interviews with the main stakeholders of a Zero Energy Building at the National University of Singapore, three human factors are identified as critical for the success of an Integrated Design Process: client leadership, acting as the engine of the project; trust among the team, acting as the glue during the process, and focus on the goals that sustains the effort and allows the continuity in time. Although the results are limited to a case study, they can serve as a guide for clients and consultants to implement optimised Integrated Design Processes for future Zero Energy Buildings.