Design Quality Indicator

The Design Quality Indicator (DQI) is a toolkit to measure the design quality of buildings.

Development of DQI was started by the Construction Industry Council in 1999^[1] and the toolkit was launched as an online resource for the UK construction industry on the 1 October 2003^[2]. In 2004 the DQI received recognition from the British Institute of Facilities Management for the role of involving users in the design process^[3]. The DQI tool was made available to users in the United States in 2006, and an online American version was launched on 20 October 2008.

Conceptual framework

DQI applies a structured approach to assess design quality based on the model by the engineer Vitruvius, the Roman author of the earliest surviving theoretical treatise on building in Western culture, who described design in terms of utilitas, firmitas and venustas, often translated as commodity, firmness and delight^[4]. DQI uses a modern day interpretation of these terms as:

• Functionality (utilitas) - the arrangement, quality and interrelationship of spaces and how the building is designed to be useful to all.
• Build Quality (firmitas) - the engineering performance of the building, which includes structural stability and the integration, safety and robustness of the systems, finishes and fittings.
• Impact (venustas) - the building’s ability to create a sense of place and have a positive effect on the local community and environment.

Methodology

DQI is completed by a range of stakeholders in the briefing and design stages of a building project, or on a completed building. Stakeholders who participate include:

• Building users (or potential users)
• Building clients
• Facilities managers (or future facilities managers)
• Architects
• Structural and building services engineers
• Quantity surveyors (Cost engineer)
• Project managers

DQI is applied in a facilitated workshop that is led by a certified DQI facilitator.

Models and related approaches

There are two models of Design Quality Indicator:

• DQI which is applicable to all building types^[5]
• DQI for schools which is applicable to school buildings^[6]. This model of DQI is being used on all current school projects in the UK^[7] and forms part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families 'Minimum Design Standard' for new school buildings.^[8]

DQI in the United States

Formed in 2006, DQI USA, LLC is the only company that is authorized to distribute the DQI tool in North America. New York City's Department of Design and Construction has adopted the DQI tool as a mandatory step in the procurement of city-owned buildings such as police stations, libraries, firehouses, museums and clinics.^[9] The DQI has also been used to investigate the relation between building design, user satisfaction, and property financial and marketing performance in North America hotels.^[10]

DQI is a web-based assessment tool that helps define and evaluate design quality at all key stages in the building procurement process. Through a proprietary algorithm, the tool converts individual subjective perceptions into objective measurable results. Clients, designers and building stakeholders rate aspects of a project on a simple six-point scale by completing a short questionnaire. The quantification of these "design intangibles" is a unique feature to DQI. The spider diagram is the signature output of DQI. The “chunks” missing from the pie represent deficiencies in the building.

References

1. ^ Page 6, Spencer, N. and Winch, G. (2002). How Buildings add value for clients, London: Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-3128-9
2. ^ Construction Industry Council. DQI Online – How well is your building designed? 1 October 2003
3. ^ The Structural Engineer DQI online service gets recognition from BIFM - The Structural Engineer 2 November 2004
4. ^ Gann et al. (2003), Design Quality Indicator as a tool for thinking: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/0961321032000107564
5. ^ Design Quality Indicator
6. ^ Schools version of DQI
7. ^ Construction Industry Council. DQI for Schools Launched 8 December 2005
8. ^ Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. Minimum Design Standards Launched May 2009
9. ^ DQI USA, LLC clients
10. ^ Zemke, D., Pullman, M., (2008), Design Assessing the value of good design in hotels: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/09613210802380993

Other references

• Whyte, J and Gann, D (2003), Design Quality Indicators: work in progress: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/0961321032000107537
• Markus, T. (2003), Lessons from the Design Quality Indicator: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/0961321032000088016
• Thomson at al. (2003), Managing value and quality in design: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/0961321032000087981
• Prasad, S. (2004), Clarifying intentions: the design quality indicator: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/0961321042000312376
• Cole, R. (2005), Building environmental assessment methods: redefining intentions and roles: Building Research and Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/09613210500219063
• Kaatz, E., Root, D. and Bowen, P (2005), Broadening project participation through a modified building sustainability assessment: Building Research & Information, London: Spon Press. doi:10.1080/09613210500219113
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2009), Case study: International Digital Laboratory, University of Warwick, Coventry
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2009), Case study: Maples Respite Centre, Harlow, Essex
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2009), Case study: St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Essex
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2009), Case study: British Library Centre for Conservation, London
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2009), Case study: Frederick Bremer School, Waltham Forest London