Application of Soft Landings in the Design Management process of a non-residential building

A study into the design processes involved in Soft Landings is an important aspect to realising energy efficiency and

environmental sustainability in buildings. Previous Soft Landings papers have focused mainly on post occupancy evaluations

and aftercare. No comprehensive study has been attempted with respect to Soft Landings at the design stage. In response

to this gap, this paper investigates the application of Soft Landings during the design stage of a central government building

in London. It provides an insight into the working processes of a Soft Landings design team and its interaction with other

team members and end users. Information from interviews with the design team, minutes of meetings, walk-through in the

designed spaces were used to explore how design decisions were reached. It highlights the role the Soft Landings Champion

played to ensure that the environmental sustainability objectives of the project were carried from design to construction. The

paper also explains the fundamentals of Soft Landings and its potential as a client-driven management tool. The paper

concludes by highlighting the implications of the result to designers, contractors and clients.