Research programme Innovations in Management of the Built Environment
Vision
In order to attain a built environment that performs well in terms of spatial, functional and technical quality, cost effectiveness and sustainability, it is necessary to incorporate the interests, requirements and constraints of the various stakeholders in all phases of the lifecycle (from initiation to use) and at different levels of scale (buildings, real estate portfolios and urban areas) (figure 1). The “Innovations in Management of the Built Environment” research group (IMBE) therefore combines knowledge from public administration, strategic management, economics, law, mathematics, sociology and psychology with insights from the field of design and engineering – mainly -architecture, urbanism, and building technology.
Mission
The IMBE research group aims to encourage and evaluate innovations in the management of the built environment and contribute to the best possible alignment between supply and demand by developing and testing evidence-based knowledge on a) performance requirements and constraints, adding value through real estate, and successful and sustainable real estate strategies (product-oriented research); and b) the planning, briefing, design, construction, management and redevelopment of the built environment (process-oriented research).
Objectives
We aim to stimulate innovative and evidence-based decision making on the part of -clients, developers, investors, architects, -engineers, consultants, policy makers, product developers, contractors and users involved in the initiation, design, construction and the development or redevelopment of the built environment:
- to contribute to the best possible alignment between the supply of relatively static real estate and the dynamic market demand for up-to-date buildings, infrastructure and public space;
- to promote and facilitate cooperation, innovation and integration in planning, design and construction processes of buildings and urban areas.
We aim to become a recognised key academic player in this field by delivering theories, conceptual frameworks, (benchmark) data, key performance indicators, guidelines, process models and decision-support systems based on empirical research and research-by-design.
