January Chapter Meeting

Tech Session: Design-Build and the Standard of Care

Main Session: Design-Build for Green Buildings-Integrated Delivery of and Integrated Idea

Design – Build and the Standard of Care
Under which Standard? Under whose Care?

As design-build achieves a broader footprint both geographically and by project type, not only are more projects going that way, but there are more ways for that way to go.  In this mix is the shifting sands upon which the “custom and practice” of the industry is based – the Standard of Care.  The profession, in fact all professions, that operate under a Standard of Care recognize that what was standard at one time can be archaic and outmoded in another.  This program will look at one example of a project within the context of a changing standard and some of the issues those changes can create.

Design – Green Design-Build  

There are two prime objectives that have long existed in the AEC industry that are now rapidly converging – the desire for “better buildings” and the desire that projects be ‘done better’.   “Green Buildings”, or sustainable and environmentally sensitive design and construction, is a project objective – it is what we ‘want’ when we are ‘done’.  In order to get there, we need to improve communication and coordination across the project team to better integrate design, construction and operational decisions and solutions so that systems and building perform more efficiently. Design-Build is a project execution strategy that looks to save time and money by integrating the design and construction processes under one umbrella. Both objectives depend upon increased communication and collaboration between construction and design. This program looks at some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of the design-build execution strategy as it relates to green building performance objectives

1. Mitchell Swann, PE, LEED AP
   Principal and Partner at MDC Systems – a risk management and forensic engineering consultancy based in Philadelphia and serving clients throughout the US and globally.Mitchell’s career includes over 30 years in the analysis, evaluation and design of complex systems across a wide range of industries and buildings types including commercial, institutional and industrial facilities with a special focus on high-tech and critical facilities.

He is Vice-Chair of the Philadelphia Energy Authority; a member of the Board of Directors for “Green Buildings United” (formerly The Delaware Valley Green Building Council) and on the Board of Directors of the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia as well as a former President of the Club.

He has chaired and been an active member of numerous ASHRAE technical committees including:

Member – TC 1.7 – General Legal and Business Education

Member – TC 2.8 – Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability

Member – TC 7.1 – Integrated Building Design

Member – TC 7.2 – Design\Build Contractors and Execution

Member – TC 9.11 – Cleanrooms and Clean Spaces (Cleanrooms); former 2 term Chair 1998 – 2003

He is a member of International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and was a contributing author to the 1^st Editions of Baseline Design Guides for Bulk Pharmaceutical Chemicals (or APIs) and  Oral Solid Dosage Form Facilities.

He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) – Construction Forum.

And he was President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

He is a frequent speaker both nationally and internationally and an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer since 2006.  He is a regular presenter on Green Building and Sustainability issues, Design – Build Project Execution, Integrated Project Delivery and Building Energy Efficiency and has conducted programs in the UAE, India, Pakistan and Vietnam as well as New York, Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

He is also a contributing author to the ASHRAE “Green Guide – The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings” and co-author of the ASHRAE Survival Guide to Design|Build Project Execution and the Cleanrooms Chapter of the ASHRAE Applications Handbook and the Cleanroom Design Guide.