by Brianna Crandall — February 19, 2016—To provide an overview of the changes expected in building design over the next decade, which will affect how facilities managers maintain and operate buildings, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently surveyed nationally leading architects for their perspectives.
AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD, points out:
Emerging technologies are becoming the dominant force in how buildings are being designed. Buildings in their own right are becoming far more energy efficient, and certain technologies are increasing both the efficiency of the people using the buildings and the project delivery methods in which buildings are being designed and constructed.
The top nonresidential design trends for the next 10 years as identified by AIA are:
- Water conservation, solar and wind power generation will become more prevalent over the next decade.
- Architects will specify more innovative building materials such as composites and new glass / glazing technologies to allow for expanded design options.
- The use of natural daylighting techniques and of lighting technology systems, including automation controls and motion-sensor activated lights, will increase.
- Building information modeling (BIM) software use will grow substantially, along with alternative project delivery methods and lean construction practices that will increase the efficiency of the building design process as well as efficiency throughout the lifecycle of the building.
