Buildings and Technology: the need to work in paralell

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Even in 2014 you sometimes get feeling that the need for light switches, fire alarms, electric outlets and communication connectors come as a complete surprise to architects and builders and in the final stages of construction. How can this be?

In my experience there are three challenges:

1) The design of buildings needs to be more driven by how it is going to be used, and by who. More explicite narratives of what will go on in the building, and how it will benefit people's life should be part of the design process. Then these kinds of oversights, and worser kinds, will be easier to spot early. Even more important, thinking on those terms may help architects and builders to get even better ideas for how to shape and plan buildings.

2) There needs to a stronger role overseeing the entire process from idea to complete building. Far too often the responsibility is shifted in the process from architect to engineering consultants and to construction people, in a linear way. If there is a person overseeing the whole process both problems and ideas can be brought up and dealt with.

3) If there is an overlap between architectural design, engineering design and construction, new ideas and problems can be discovered earlier, and be dealt with by the right competences. You will also have a speedier process as you'll work in paralell rather than sequential.

So maybe in 2015 we won't see pictures like the above?