When Integration Goes Wrong: Learning from the Mistakes of Practitioners
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 22, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper presents the results of research that was conducted by interviewing architects and structural engineering practitioners to find more specificity on the topic of integration among the two fields. The responses analyzed here are those that portray the undesirable integration missteps. The results yield a framing of integration that is narrower than one might expect. Two areas of poor integration identified by architects give particular insight into the structural engineering and architecture relationship: the improper intellectual framing of the project and the perceived conservatism of the engineer. For engineers, the responses centered on the failure of the regular interactions of the professionals and the lack of architectural leadership. Beyond the profession-specific themes, a comparison of the responses from all practitioners shows that integration lapses happen when the structure itself is too large or a lack of foresight causes errors to arise during construction. The opportunity to review and criticize examples of bad integration, especially when contrasted with positive definitions, demonstrates that integration is multifaceted. Small process-based missteps can color the way a practitioner views the success of integration in a project or work methodology. In comparison to positive examples of integration, which include hope, aspiration, and aims, negative factors show that, along with the ideals, the daily working relationship between the architect and engineer is equally important.
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Acknowledgments
The author is thankful to the practitioners for their time, reflections, and generosity. In addition, this study could not have been completed without the assistance of a College of Fine and Applied Arts Creative Research Award and the University of Illinois’ Campus Research Board grant.
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© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 24, 2015
Accepted: Nov 24, 2015
Published online: Jan 20, 2016
Published in print: Jun 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jun 20, 2016
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