Building systems and flexibility : developing a conceptual cost analysis framework for office buildings

Abstract EN

Flexibility of physical environment in workplaces is an important issue for designers and facility managers in order to understand the implications of any change.

This paper develops a conceptual framework for the notion of workplace flexibility.

Building systems which represent the physical elements of the workplace are categorized in terms of shell, scenery, services and set.

Flexibility is conceptualized in terms of ease to change, and is associated with cost.

Most of the research in literature dealt with flexibility in its theoretical concept.

This research tried to attach quantitative measures to the concept of flexibility.

Three types of change related to cost were developed in association with both performance and time.

These are costs of replacement, improvement and movement.

The paper claims that through understanding the three types of cost which represent level of flexibility of the physical elements, organizations and designers could select the most appropriate choice of change.

Indicators for flexibility and effectiveness were developed.

Results of analyzing the three types of change according to the developed framework when applied to air conditioning ducts system in Jaffali office building in Jeddah show variation of flexibility level at different level of change.

However, replacement of the whole ducts system are found to be the most expensive choice, whereas improvement of the system is the most effective choice.

The paper suggests that such approach could be easily applied to different building systems, as it becomes a helpful tool for designers and managers to resolve the problem of flexibility.