Design Objectives  

WBDG design objectives are all significantly important: accessible, aesthetics, cost-effective, functional/operational, historic preservation, productive, secure/safe, and sustainable. Their interrelationships must be understood, evaluated, and appropriately applied to a project to create a high-performance building. Yet each is just one aspect of a truly successful project, in which project goals are identified early in the process and the interdependencies of all building systems and materials are coordinated, from the planning and programming phase through operations and maintenance. Each design objective is presented in the context of the others throughout the WBDG website.

Accessible

Pertains to building elements, heights and clearances implemented to address the specific needs of disabled people.

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Aesthetics

Pertains to the physical appearance and image of building elements and spaces as well as the integrated design process.

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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.

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Functional / Operational

Pertains to functional programming—spatial needs and requirements, system performance as well as durability and efficient maintenance of building elements.

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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.

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Productive

Pertains to occupants' well-being—physical and psychological comfort—including building elements such as air distribution, lighting, workspaces, systems, and technology.

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Secure / Safe

Pertains to the physical protection of occupants and assets from man-made and natural hazards.

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Sustainable

Pertains to environmental performance of building elements and strategies.

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