With Discrete Event Simulation previously a niche activity requiring a specific skill set and often costly software, the industry has not been able to see and leverage the benefits, which include predicting the full effects of a project – whether related to efficiency, cost or the environment – until site work is completed.. A recent shift in the construction landscape has been an increasing focus on Design for Manufacture and Assembly, or DfMA, which aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the construction centre, improving productivity, reducing waste and aiming for net-zero carbon emissions.

designing with the community.building with local materials.. Aside from the self-evident importance of composing buildings that are good for people, the economy and the planet, there is a practical benefit in defining and charting quantitively the social value our built environment can provide.. Design to Value.

The multifaceted concept of social value, including social sustainability in architecture, is something Bryden Wood project teams aim to consider at every stage; the most value to the end user and community, the most sustainable solution, the optimum solution for the problem statement.Each project is unique in what will make up its social value, and where emphasis should be placed for the greatest benefit to the wellbeing of the users, the outcome of the project and to individuals’ lives.. Often in our projects, our view on social value in architecture considers not only the use and outcome of the building, but also aspects beyond the initial value of a new built environment.We look at what makes up that environment, how it’s constructed, and its ability to be reused and adapted over time.

We consider the whole lifecycle of the scheme and always aim to maximise social value in construction.. Our Design to Value approach to projects allows us to consider social value in every aspect of the new asset.We analyse and understand the requirements of every project to investigate how the components of the building meet the correct criteria, be that its location, the process it needs to provide for, or the wellbeing of the users.

We maximise the value of the asset by balancing a wide range of criteria.. Design to Value may lead to a solution that is very different to the one initially conceived, but it will be a solution that is fully thought through, appropriate and complete; a built asset that delivers value across the piece.

This leads to wide-ranging benefits: cost-savings, increases in speed, quality and safety, and the creation of more sustainable buildings with projects delivering greater social value.. Social value in architecture, focusing on process.Bryden Wood’s principle of Design to Value and the promotion of DfMA looks to bridge this gap, as the construction industry transitions to MMC.

As well as this, our focus on data and metrics sets us aside from traditional practices.We are well versed in using this data to evaluate, improve and continuously review our projects.

Data, briefing and lessons learnt lead our design process, and set metrics and tangible outcomes to assess.. Flora Samuel and Eli Hatleskog’s collection of global stories published in Architectural Design outlines the opportunities available for the architectural profession in mapping and measuring the realisation of social capital through architectural design.Although it is difficult to clearly articulate an agreed definition of social value, Samuel and Hatleskog have posited five key overlapping dimensions:.