Interested in a new job? Take a look at the job posting above. Does it look interesting? Too bad it isn’t real — but it should be! One of the greatest impediments to delivery of intelligent buildings is proper design. The challenge is that it isn’t clear where this task falls.
In the traditional model, an owner retains an architect who holds complete responsibility for the project. The architect’s responsibility includes not only the design of the structure, but the proper design of all of the building structure and systems. As these systems have become more complicated, the architectural community has split the systems into silos and hired specialists for the design of each system. The design of the mechanical system goes to one specialized group of engineers, electrical to another, plumbing to a third. Each area has one or more groups (or firms) that provide their designs, which are then placed into separate specification sections to be installed by contractors who are also specialists in these areas. This well-understood model fits neatly into our contract documents and business practices (Table 1).