Earlier this year Structural Engineering & Design conducted the 2010 State of the Industry survey of practicing structural engineers to learn more about their experience with integrated project delivery (IPD). When asked “Has IPD been used on any projects in your firm/organization?” 16 percent of the 706 participants responded yes, 59 percent said no, and 25 percent replied “I don’t know.” Given this ratio of 6:1 without experience with IPD, it becomes apparent that this process is still relatively unused — and likely not well understood — by the industry.

In the same survey, we asked structural engineers to indicate how important particular topics were to the industry. More than half of the respondents indicated that the litigious AEC environment (58 percent), improving worker productivity (54 percent), and leveraging technology effectively (54 percent) were either important or the most important issue we face. Additionally, 44 percent of the respondents to the survey indicated that improving construction efficiency is an important issue.

As defined on Stagnito Media’s newest Integrated Project Delivery website (www.ipdchannel.net), IPD is a new approach to the design and construction of buildings that is based on a cooperative working relationship, shared risk and reward, and open exchange of data that is intended to result in lower cost, shorter design and construction schedules, lower overall risk, increased prefabrication, and overall improvement in efficiency and productivity. The convergence of new technology, process improvement, and cultural change are helping to facilitate an environment where owners, architects, engineers, and contractors can collaborate more effectively earlier in the design and construction process to achieve these goals. By challenging traditional methods of delivery, IPD is paving the way for better, faster, and less costly building projects; streamlined information and material supply chains; and more efficient processes throughout the building design and construction industry.

According to this description, IPD stands to solve all of the important industry concerns identified in our survey. So why are so few engineers employing this delivery method? Similar to the technologically-enabled BIM trend, the definition and benefits of IPD — not to mention the process’s difficulties — are intensely debated. While design professionals, contractors, and owners are still experimenting with the degrees of IPD, some projects are going forward leveraging the strengths of this project delivery method. While the industry still has a lot to learn, many are out there discussing IPD: the theories, the successes, and of course, the challenges. The new website will frame the debate: it contains news, perspectives, projects, and a real-time online poll — providing you an opportunity to participate in the dialogue. Check it out at www.ipdchannel.net and tell us what you’d like to learn more about.

One engineer with significant experience with this evolving delivery method is Samir Emdanat, director of Ghafari Consulting. “IPD is an emerging delivery system with a structure that promotes collaboration across organizational boundaries,” says Emdanat. The new challenge, according to Emdanat, is for teams to define a flow of information and identify how they can collaborate to increase overall value and eliminate waste. Read his article, “Integrated project delivery demands new approaches to design” on page 22 to understand more about the process challenges and how they can be overcome.

By learning more about this project delivery method, especially from project successes and failures, and addressing the challenges — including contractual, insurance, and legal — we will be armed with another tool to succeed in the new economy.

Speaking of overcoming the hurdles of the new economy, the upcoming 2010 Best Firms To Work For Summit will be held on Sept. 28-29 in Las Vegas. In addition to honoring the firms that make the 2010 ranking, the annual conference gives firm leaders an edge in retaining talent and running a successful business. Read about the event on page 33 and visit www.BestFirmsSummit.com to register!

Jennifer Goupil, P.E.,
jgoupil@stagnitomedia.com