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This paper seeks to investigate the theoretical and practical links between teaching and research in a teaching led university in the UK. Focus is on the new architectural technology undergraduate programmes that, in theory at least, provide an opportunity to integrate activities. An extensive literature review demonstrated the benefit to both students and academic staff of incorporating research into the curriculum. The research used was centered on an innovative Level 3 undergraduate module, which was monitored for 48 months. The module was designed with the aim of encouraging architectural technology students to approach architectural detailing from first principles within an environmentally responsible framework. The philosophy behind the module was to incorporate lecturers’ research into the module, both to enhance the student experience and to narrow the gap between research and teaching. The module also sought to form a subject integrating role, bringing together management, technology and design via project work. A brief overview of the development of the module and the teaching and learning strategy is provided before looking at delivery and evolution of the module. The students’ evaluation of the module, via a questionnaire survey, is then reviewed and issues for further consideration highlighted. A number of observations are made relating to the integration of knowledge, which have implications for all contributors to construction education.

The purpose of this paper is to study knowledge integration (KI) when diffusing a systemic innovation. The objectives are to understand what mechanisms are used and when and what their effects are in terms of knowledge development.

The method comprised a longitudinal case study which followed a firm’s attempts to develop and diffuse a timber multi-storey building system (the systemic innovation) over a number of projects.

The findings emphasize actual projects as the most crucial activity for KI and when and why soft personalization mechanisms and codified knowledge should be mixed. Furthermore, it shows how different types of knowledge are built-up including construction process effects over a series of projects.

The research contributes with knowledge about mechanisms for the diffusion of a specific systemic innovation type and provides input regarding mechanisms to use. The introduction of the concepts “domain-specific,” “procedural” and “general knowledge” into construction has increased understanding of innovation diffusion and knowledge flows and where and how they are integrated.

The research shows how knowledge develops and through which mechanisms, and where problems occur. Construction organizations can learn from this to avoid mistakes and potentially better understand how to manage knowledge to diffuse a systemic innovation.

The research provides insight into systemic innovation diffusion over a series of projects and focuses on both projects and the construction process.

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that influence the diffusion of a systemic innovation in the Swedish construction sector. The focus is on high-rise multi-storey timber housing; the development of which was enabled by a change in building regulations. This allowed building higher than two stories in timber.

A longitudinal case study was used with multiple data collection methods to study the development and diffusion of a multi-storey timber house system by a case study organisation.

The findings contribute to understanding for a number of interacting factors influencing the diffusion of a systemic innovation related to the case study organisation.

The research provides a holistic view of interacting factors influencing the diffusion of a systemic innovation. The results have value to the Swedish construction sector and to the global community of construction researchers, as it provides empirical findings that further increase the understanding for diffusion of systemic innovations in a specific context.

This study aims to determine and consolidate the multi-scale components that inform anticipatory action for resilience; propose a conceptual framework for the collaborative and holistic design, delivery and management of resilience at both the macro and micro scale; and test the efficacy of the framework to deliver sustainable (sustained) resilience.

A conceptual framework was proposed by consolidating what was learnt from literature review. Case studies were then used to explore the efficacy of the framework to deliver resilience. The applicability of the specific measures was also examined to determine the extent by which they support anticipatory action and resilience capacity.

It was found that a combination of active, latent, evolving and to some extent improvised yet integrated solutions can support anticipatory flood resilience at the micro, meso and macro scale, as well as the physical and social domains.

Socio-physical resilience improves when policy makers, designers, planners and engineers work together to deliver anticipatory solutions prior to a natural disaster. Further, findings confirm that resilience can be achieved in both new and existing urban contexts.

The multi-scale, integrated strategies can inform anticipatory practices, which, in turn, may reduce social vulnerability during and after natural events such as flooding.

This work lays the foundation for further theoretical and practical work on socio-spatial resilience and provides the learning-based structure within which policy makers, planners and architects can administer interventions for the practical delivery of planning-scale and building-level resilience.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel tool to support decision making for enhanced demolition process efficiency and material waste sortability through computerised 4D motion workflow simulation.

A time-lapse evaluation model was developed to classify and estimate the impact of building demolition processes and material waste recovery. The dynamic assessment of demolition, collision and mechanical impact was measured through computerised 4D motion game and physics engines. Waste recovery and treatment complemented the simulation algorithm. The simulation of the information workflow was tested through case study using two demolition strategies.

The simulation successfully estimated the efficiency and efficacy of the different demolition strategies. Thus, simulation results can potentially support better decision making related to the definition of demolition strategies associated with recycling and re-use targets.

The simulation was limited to a simple machine-led demolition strategy. Further research is required to understand the impact of complex machine mechanic movements and processes on complex building fabrics.

Modelling and evaluating the demolition process and its impact on material waste recovery with a time dimension is novel. The comparative analysis of quantitative data allows demolition professionals to find optimal and more sustainable demolition solutions and more efficient and safer implementation on site. It also contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between demolition strategy and waste sortability. This research represents a significant advancement in applied computing for building demolition waste recycling and notably, it improves the quality of information available in the definition of building demolition strategies.

The term architectural management has been in use since the 1960s and forms an essential part of this journal's title. However, the evolution of the architectural management field has not been a smooth affair, coming into, out of, and then back into fashion; and concise definitions continue to be illusive. Architectural management is a powerful tool that can be applied to the benefit of the professional service firm and the total building process, yet it continues to receive scant attention in the professional journals, seen as little more than a specialist interest. This paper charts the development of the architectural management field and takes a critical look at the field in relation to current research and its applicability to those who stand to gain the most from architectural management, the professional service firms. The paper concludes that architectural management is a cultural issue.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a pragmatic definition of architectural management (AM) derived from systematic research.

A triangulated approach to data collection was employed, comprising a number of sequential stages. First, a literature review was carried out to analyse the previous attempts to define the term. Then, a preliminary survey was conducted (online questionnaire) to capture the current interpretations of the term. After that, a new definition was formulated based on analysing and synthesising the collected data. The fourth stage was focused on examining the consistency of the new definition through the perspectives of architectural researchers and practitioners. The final stage was refining the definition based on the feedback.

After following a pragmatic approach for constructing a new definition of AM; and based on the results of the several testing stages, it was found that AM is associated with the strategic management of the architectural office and its individual projects; and it is responsible for value design and delivery for its adopter and for the different types of stakeholders.

Although there was some quantitative testing in addition to the qualitative data the response rate was low in terms of the population of UK architectural practices.

The outcome is the first definition of AM grounded in research. The research is unique in terms of reviewing the scope and limitations of the previous definitions of AM. Based on the research findings, the new definition of AM was found to offer an accepted description of AM that can be used by both researchers, educators and practising architects. The definition provides a common understanding (vocabulary) for those working in the area of AM.

Communication of information from manufacturer to design office is important in raising specifiers' awareness of new building products and product improvements. Efficacy of this process will influence the uptake of innovations, yet the small amount of published research suggests that professionals operate managerial systems, both to limit the volume and to control the quality of this information, in an attempt to ensure its relevance to specifiers in their offices. The research reported here looked at the reasons for filtering information coming into the office and the mechanisms used to achieve these objectives. Interviews with partners of architectural practices and their receptionists, together with views from a number of trade representatives helped to identify and illustrate a number of issues concerning the relationship between manufacturers and designers. Combined, the interviews provide a valuable insight on an area largely neglected by researchers, yet a vital part of the specification process.

Effective teams use a balance of synchronous and asynchronous communication. Team communication is dependent on the communication acts of team members and the ability of managers to facilitate, stimulate and motivate them. Team members from organizations using different information systems tend to have different understanding, opinions, and rates of adoption and skills levels regarding specific IT tools. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effective use of tools for communication in design teams and the strategies for the use of specific tools.

A review of the potential effectiveness of synchronous and asynchronous communication means and tools for team communication leads to a review of research conducted into the use of two relatively new electronic tools for team communication by design teams in The Netherlands.

The research results revealed that a collective framework for team communication and collaboration using electronic tools was missing. There was also evidence of a lack of understanding by the users of the proper use of the tools, a lack of training, poor management competences to stimulate proper use. There was also evidence that the rivalry of tools tended to hinder, rather than improve, effectiveness of team communication.

The findings are limited to the cases investigated; however, they tend to support earlier findings into construction team communication. There is a need for a better collective understanding of team communication, which should be supported with training to develop appropriate skills, both for the use of new technologies and for the use of team rules.

The results provide information and advice for design and project managers concerned with improving communications in design and construction projects.

Better integration of project processes has often been identified as the key issue regarding construction performance improvement. In some countries lean construction has become well‐established, although there appears to be considerable diversity in the interpretation of the concept. Lean construction initially focused on production aspects, but gradually design issues have started to receive more attention and integrating construction design and production processes from a lean perspective are beginning to be addressed. The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the practical challenges underlying the implementation of approaches promoted as “lean” and compare this with published research/theory.

Following an extensive review of the literature, a multiple case‐strategy approach was used to explore the practical application of lean approaches to design and construction integration in an organisational setting. Summaries of the case studies, one from the USA and two from Denmark, help to highlight a number of pertinent issues facing practitioners and researchers.

Findings suggest that it is possible to identify a number of aspects that (in theory as well as in practice) both influence and, to various extents, limit the applicability of the lean philosophy to construction. Findings also help to emphasise the importance of a number of interdependent factors for achieving better integration, namely: value identification/specification; an appropriate project delivery framework; structuring and planning of delivery processes; transparency; management and leadership; learning; and the importance of local context.

The findings provide an original contribution to the integration of design and construction activities from a lean perspective. The findings are generic and could be practically applied in a variety of contexts.