About IDBE

Who will Benefit?

Students come to the IDBE course from all scales of organisation, some may work for large multinationals, others may be in practice on their own. The student body is increasingly international, with approximately 30% coming from overseas. The countries represented include Australia, China, Germany, India, Iran, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the United States of America.

Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment is relevant to all built environment disciplines (architecture, engineering, surveying, construction, landscape architecture, project management, cost planning and control, planning etc). The links below suggest how the IDBE course offers different benefits to different disciplines.

Don’t be concerned if your discipline doesn’t appear on the list as the course has previously taken students from wider backgrounds such as law, journalism and teaching.

Architecture
Engineering
Project Management
Design Management
Cost Planning and Control
Construction
Urban Design & Policy Making

Architecture

The Architectural profession continues to attract increasing numbers but the scope of architectural services is ever narrowing as others in the industry take over roles once belonging to architects such as; project manager, client advisor and façade designer. There is a strong argument to reverse this trend and for architects to re-inhabit the roles they previously retreated from. Diversification and the acquiring of new expertise and interests can deliver distinct advantages when competing for work. A better understanding of the industry enables architects to reassert their influence.
IDBE aims to revitalise the architects engagement with the challenges of the built environment and to better prepare them to:

  • lead and contribute to design teams with an increased understanding of the specialist knowledge and goals of fellow team members
  • take on greater responsibility within their organisation
  • take a confident part in the increasingly complex and political world of the client, developer, government and private finance bodies who procure infrastructure and buildings
  • attain the confidence and initiative to start up new ventures
  • make use of new network of contacts across built environment disciplines and construction industry
  • diversify and look for new opportunities in design, management and technical innovation

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Engineering

Traditional engineering expertise is essential to all projects, but engineers recognise that problems aren’t solved by analysis alone. Imagination, awareness of context and the ability to negotiate with others are also vitally important ingredients. If engineers are to make a contribution at the stage of projects when ideas are being generated and strategies are being formed they must equip themselves with a broader knowledge base and with the skills of confident advocacy. The IDBE course inspires engineers to:

  • feel motivated and enabled to fully contribute to early decision-making processes
  • develop their strategic thinking and communication skills
  • be more inventive
  • understand the social, political and economic drivers effecting the construction industry
  • develop team leadership skills and take on greater responsibility within their organisation
  • make use of new network of contacts across built environment disciplines and the construction industry
  • diversify and look for new opportunities in design, management and technical innovation

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Project Management

Project managers come from diverse backgrounds and many are not designers. When interacting with and guiding the design team an understanding of the goals of the various players is vital. Conversely for a designer who seeks to move into project management the course provides the opportunity to obtain a broader view of the industry. The skills most relevant to project managers developed by the IDBE programme are:

  • effective communication with designers, clients and end users, cost consultants, financiers and contractors, stemming from an appreciation of the aims and objectives of all parties
  • an increased understanding the process of design, especially the early strategic decision-making phases, to enable them to fully contribute to and positively guide the project team
  • develop team leadership skills and take on greater responsibility within their organisation
  • to provide a general overview of social, political and economic drivers effecting the construction industry

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Design Management

The job title ‘Design Manager’ in construction is relatively new and the term is used by different organisation to mean differing things. For some, the role overlaps with project management and is concerned with information flows, the achieving of deadlines and the co-ordination of package contractors but for others it involves contributing to strategic design decisions and advising the client on design team composition and design method. As well as having varied roles, Design Managers also come from diverse backgrounds and like Project Managers many are not designers. But when guiding design teams and integrating their sometimes conflicting goals it is essential that the Design Manager has a clear overview of the process and has an understanding of the motivations and, methods of the various players. Conversely, for a designer who seeks to move into Design Management the course provides the opportunity to obtain a broader view of the industry.

In a period of rapid change we believe that the IDBE course offers Design managers the opportunity to develop:

  • effective communication with designers, clients and end users, cost consultants, financiers and contractors, stemming from an appreciation of the aims and objectives of all parties
  • an increased understanding of the process of design, especially the early strategic decision-making phases, to enable them to fully contribute to and positively guide the project team
  • team leadership skills (cont.)
  • an appreciation of the social, political and economic drivers effecting the construction industry

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Cost Planning and Control

Outstanding cost consultants have an enlightened approach to dealing with the design team. They believe that maintaining the clients best interests comes from working closely with the designers from the very outset and that means being involved in making the early strategic design decisions. As procurement practices change, design life and whole life costing are becoming increasingly important hence close liaison with the designers is vital. The IDBE programme provides the opportunity for cost consultants to develop their skills to:

  • predict the financial impact of early strategic decisions through a more thorough understanding of the designers’ proposals
  • have a deepened understanding of how buildings function including environmental and energy use issues so that estimating running costs and whole life costing can be more accurate
  • develop team leadership skills and take on greater responsibility within their organisation
  • make use of a new network of contacts across the built environment disciplines and the construction industry
  • diversify and look for new opportunities in project management, facility management and contracting
  • have the confidence to advise and fully engage with the design team with the aim of reducing the risk of cost problems from the outset.

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Construction

The increase in D&B and PFI contracts has led to contractors taking on design responsibilities previously held by the designers. Design managers and construction managers need to efficiently and effectively manage the design and design team and to do so they need to understand the process of design. They will also need to be able to communicate with clients, end users, facilities managers and corporate financiers. IDBE provides the opportunity to develop the following:

  • an understanding of the aims and objectives of the other members of the project team; designers, client and end user
  • effective communication with the design team
  • confidence to provide timely construction and buildability advice to the design team especially during the early strategic design stages
  • team leadership skills and the confidence to take on greater responsibility within their organisation
  • a new network of contacts across the built environment disciplines and the construction industry

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Urban Design & Policy Making

The spot light continues to shine on policy makers dealing with strategic development proposals. Individuals working in this area who appreciate the importance of quality, sustainable development and the social, economic and political forces which shape the world in which we live will be invaluable as critics and guardians of the future of the built environment. Planners, planning consultants, building control officers and civil servants will all find that the IDBE programme:

  • provides insight into the processes of design and construction
  • gives an improved understanding and appreciation of the aims of designers and the pursuit of quality
  • will encourage and support critical analysis of current planning and development policy with special attention paid to sustainable development
  • will provide a new network of contacts across the built environment disciplines and the construction industry

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The course is a broadening, challenging experience, which apart from fostering the philosophy and skills of cross-disciplinary thinking and working, allows you to step ‘outside the box’ and savour the intellectual and physical climate of Cambridge University.

Anthony Willats, IDBE 1, Architect