"Good design leads to a profitable business."
We challenged ourselves on whether the superior service achieved through design brings superior profits in the industry or through continuous improvement and value management or a combination of both. We realised value creation happens by accomplishing a result (Techno -commercial) superior to that of the competition & meeting the client needs and not just by making a well-designed development which is architecturally creative.
Innovation, sustainable design approach and design Standardisation play a pivot role in developing a culture unprecedented in real estate development. It helps in achieving milestones aligned with the vision of the organisation. Strong organisation culture helps in developing strong teams with a long and distant vision aligned to group vision.
1.24.1 Technology & Innovation
Technology and Innovation complement each other in finding the best fit for commercial project development. With organisation's vision to become a market leader in commercial real estate development, TISS team has been constituted to explore new technologies and devising strategies to adapt these technologies to deliver value. Promoting a strong innovation culture with dedicated teams with the involvement of specialists in Innovation will become the driving force for success.
Simple steps for Innovation through design is as under;
- Stage 1 : Empathise - Research on the Users' needs
- Stage 2: Define - State Users' needs and develop the problem statements
- Stage 3: Ideate - Challenge the assumptions and create ideas
- Stage 4: Prototype - Start to create solutions
- Stage 5: Test -Try the solutions
Diagram 1. Design Innovation process
Innovation in the construction industry can be standardised as long as it is treated as a process.
This process can be seen to consist of the following stages:
By analysing construction methods during the planning phase, potential alternatives and innovative ideas can be drawn to achieve the project and development goals. This stage is heavily influenced by the scope, complexity and difficulty of the project and market demand, business opportunities, legislation, access to new technologies, and so on.
The decision to adopt innovative solutions depends on the objectives, benefits and competitive advantages expected by the organisation, as well as the potential to transfer innovations to other projects. The assessment of innovative alternatives must take all projects and company's goals into account.
Adopting a technological advancement requires the organisation's commitment, Innovation, and broader construction site team in Phoenix. The company must allocate the human and material resources necessary to deliver the Innovation. This stage is essential since it involves adjusting scheduled activities to the actual situation.
The team and the company must assess whether an innovation project's objectives have been fulfilled. All the stages of the innovation process should be considered, in addition to any related aspects.
For the results to be exploited, they need to be successfully transferred to other construction projects. In other words, the innovation process terminates when it is learnt, encoded and re-applied.
Innovation needs to change from being just applying good ideas to a process that can be managed, measured and controlled systematically. Consequently, the Standardisation of Innovation is essential. The key lies in considering Innovation as a management process. Each part of the organisation can manage and improve various aspects of Innovation and integrate them into its functions.
1.24.2 Sustainability
Sustainability is a long term goal. At the same time, sustainable development refers to a process that enables developers to meet the present's needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their demand.
Driving the organisation to Go Green as the way of life is part of Phoenix's in-built environment . Phoenix has pioneered several "first in the industry" not losing focus on the cost paved way to more industry adaptation, as a sustainable approach. Few to mention, composite Steel structures ( Cradle to Cradle materials ), precast structures and several novel construction materials are examples of Phoenix's endeavour to go green.
Sustainable building design and construction is the practice of creating structures and using environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes throughout the life cycle of a building from selecting the site to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and finally, deconstruction. It is equally important to also think about deconstruction strategies at the drawing board level to understand the possible environmental impact on the neighbouring site.
Sustainable Design Philosophy
Following are some of the best practices adopted in design development meeting the sustainable development and green building goals.
User experience (UX) is given the utmost priority in design development.
Flexible, scalable and well-being environments are few areas to be considered while creating project development guidelines. The inclusive design will also make places usable by everyone, age, ability and circumstances. This will also address and develop a responsive design that considers what people say they need and want.
Composite steel structures as an alternative to a conventional constructure (make, use, dispose of) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life.
Consider energy implications and carbon emissions in the site selection and building orientation. It is advisable to have developed shadow profiling on development options to arrive at the best solution. Control and minimise erosion through improved grading and landscaping methods. Reduce heat islands through specific building design methods. Minimise the disturbance to the habitat surrounding the building site.
Using electric and hybrid vehicles, installing solar panels will help maximise renewable energy in built environments. Efficient envelope design with optimal WWR (Window Wall Ratio), choosing suitable façade material and using energy-efficient equipment like EC fans and VFD's (variable frequency drive) changes can reduce non-renewable resource usage.
Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment than competing products or services that serve the same purpose are Environmentally preferable. Steel, Products with low VOC, asbestos fee materials are few to mention.
The decrease in the use of energy for construction, running and maintenance. Proper design and orientation, use of climatic conditions including passive and active features, and more highly efficient motors and with VFD's.
Water conservation is achieved by following.
Refers to the quality of a building's environment concerning the health and well-being of those who occupy space within the built environment. IEQ is determined by many factors, including lighting, air quality, and damp conditions. Effective strategies improving occupants' comfort and control highlighted below.
The success of any project will be through its operational cycle. A thoughtful and efficient design will be able to perform to its optimal usage through the life cycle. Phoenix's team and facility management team will analyse existing buildings and on-going building to arrive at the best spec for future developments. Periodical workshop will be held along with internal stakeholders viz. Phoenix FM team, Operational teams, Conserve (Sustainability consultant for Post occupancy services).
Following are key areas identified in post-occupancy operational excellence.
First steps to transform and adopt digital age, Phoenix also initiated with pilot working on digital twin technology in the project. More detailed review is carried out to understand the overall battery limits and scope matrix to customise the Phoenix approach.
Endeavour is to Achieve.
1.24.3 Strategic Support
Phoenix as the organisation invested time and money in identifying technologies and products which can be adopted in construction and lead by example in adopting the same as " first in market ". It is essential to have a structured approach to development management through a quantitative and qualitative approach.
TISS will create frameworks and monitor Phoenix's future-ready approach in various development under progress and undertake a gap analysis to enable a suitable framework.
It is a continuous endeavour of Phoenix to become the market leader in every aspect of construction development. At Phoenix we build our facilities future-ready with 5S's Strategy.
S calability & Speed
Standardisation
S ustainable (Environment)
S ocially responsible
S ensible (Client responsive)
Below exercise carried out to map the TISS development process through the Balance Score Card.
As part of strategic support, TISS will develop and monitor metrices on project development and also monitor at frequent intervals on compliances on the processes and policies established as part of standardisation.
Back to Top