Integrated Design Studio: Subtropical and tropical mixed-use buildings (IDS14)

This Integrated Design Studio (IDS) program, incorporating two design projects, brings together architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, construction managers and quantity surveyors to explore new ways of designing that will integrate technical performance and ‘constructability’ with the many other design aspects of mixed-use buildings incorporating aspects of aged care. It is expected this IDS will produce innovative design concepts that will be a crucial part of Bolton Clarke’s commitment to a people-centred, co-design approach to fulfill its mission of improving health, independence and quality of life, while also delivering buildings that provide flexible management of cooling demand and optimisation of renewable energy.

This IDS will extend on the learnings of previous IDS projects by addressing several outstanding issues:

1. The goals and performance objectives of a vertically integrated client (whole-of-life perspective for building design, operation and asset value).
2. The complexities and competing occupant needs of mixed used buildings.
3. Subtropical and tropical climate control needs, the impact on HVAC, and the implications for energy supply and demand.
4. Incorporating building services design, constructability and economic feasibility into the IDS process from the beginning, within the context of design of occupant health and wellbeing.

This program expects to:

• contribute to the knowledge and development of the IDS process
• overcome discipline prioritisation and risk management barriers that prevent design consultants from providing innovative design for the clients that include energy optimisation and renewable energy integration while also considering constructability, operational ease and asset life
• contribute innovations that increase the fraction of building energy that can be economically provided by on-site renewable energy, and maximise local use of onsite renewable energy (through demand shifting, management, control and/or storage options) within these specific climate contexts and building typologies