Concept:
The WBDG is the only web-based portal providing government and industry practitioners with one-stop access to up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a 'whole buildings' perspective.
Currently organized into four major categories—Design Recommendations, Project Management / Operations & Maintenance, Federal Facility Criteria and Continuing Education—at the heart of the WBDG are Resource Pages, reductive summaries on particular topics.
Development of the WBDG is a collaborative effort among federal agencies, private sector companies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. Its success depends on industry and government experts contributing their knowledge and experience to better serve the building community.
The WBDG web site is offered as an assistance to the building community by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) through funding support from the Department of Defense, the NAVFAC Engineering Innovation and Criteria Office, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Energy, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). The WBDG Advisory Workgroup, consisting of representatives from over 15 participating federal agencies guide the development of the WBDG.
Objecives:
In buildings, to achieve a truly successful holistic project, these design objectives must be considered in concert and in balance with each other:
- Accessible: Pertains to building elements, heights and clearances implemented to address the specific needs of disabled people.
- Aesthetics: Pertains to the physical appearance and image of building elements and spaces as well as the integrated design process.
- Cost-Effective: Pertains to selecting building elements on the basis of life-cycle costs (weighing options during concepts, design development, and value engineering) as well as basic cost estimating and budget control.
- Functional/Operational: Pertains to functional programming—spatial needs and requirements, system performance as well as durability and efficient maintenance of building elements.
- Historic Preservation: Pertains to specific actions within a historic district or affecting a historic building whereby building elements and strategies are classifiable into one of the four approaches: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction.
- Productive: Pertains to occupants' well-being—physical and psychological comfort—including building elements such as air distribution, lighting, workspaces, systems, and technology.
- Secure/Safe: Pertains to the physical protection of occupants and assets from man-made and natural hazards.
- Sustainable: Pertains to environmental performance of building elements and strategies.
Whole Building Design provides the strategies to achieve a true high-performance building: one that is cost-effective over its entire life cycle, safe, secure, accessible, flexible, aesthetic, productive, and sustainable.
Participating Agencies:
- Department Of Defense of United States of America
- Department Of Veterans Affairs of United States of America
- Department Of Energy of United States of America
- General Services Administration
- Department Of Homeland Security of United States of America
- Department Of State of United States of America
- National Aeronautics And Space Administration