The value and impact of architecture (workplace data)
Invitation for expressions of interest
April 2014
Collaborating with RIBA research gives organisations – whether academic, architectural
practice or other private sector body – an opportunity to benefit from both from a link to our
membership of practicing architects and architectural practices, and the benefit of association
with the strong RIBA brand, which has significant influence with both clients and other
sections of the construction industry.
We are currently seeking a research organisation to collaborate on a piece of research
evaluating the value and impact of architecture in workplaces.
Objective
1.
RIBA (2012) Leading
Architecture: The RIBA’s
Strategy 2012-2016
[online]
To collate actionable evidence about the value and impact of architecture (as set out in Leading
Architecture1).
Background
2.
RIBA (2011) Good design
it all adds up [online]
In 2011 the RIBA published Good design: it all adds up2 which reviewed research on the impact of
good design for a number of building types. What we found was that while some good
evidence exists it is far from comprehensive. The RIBA wants to add a substantive
contribution to the evidence base of the benefits of well-designed buildings, as well as
communicating the existing evidence and the case studies that will aid the industry in making
the case for – and delivering – good design in the future.
Research
The research should:

3.
We are using the value
typologies summarised
in CABE (2006) The
Value Handbook [online].
‘Economic value’
encompasses both
‘exchange value’ and
‘use value’, and may also
have aspects related to
‘image value’.



consider good design as it relates to buildings, specifically workplace design (rather
than the process of design which we are considering separately);
be quantitative (looking at metrics related to economic value and/or social value3);
result in new insights (the research will be based on existing datasets but these will
either be unpublished or novel analysis will be undertaken on a public dataset);
the insights should be actionable (giving sufficient reason for action, i.e. producing a new
compelling insight, or evidence that resolves an issue on which evidence so far is divided);
Outputs – and how the RIBA will use them
This piece of research will create evidence that will be distributed via a wider communication
strategy. The output desired from this piece of work will be a research report setting out the
findings, including noting strengths of (and possible limitations about the use of) the research.
How to submit an expression of interest
Royal Institute of British Architects
66 Portland Place
London W1B 1AD UK
Tel +44 (0)20 7580 5533
Fax +44 (0)20 7255 1541
info@riba.org
www.architecture.com
Registered Charity Number 210 566
VAT Registration Number 232 351 891
Appointment of researchers will be undertaken through a two stage process. A shortlist of 6
will be chosen from organisations expressing interest, who will be asked for a full research
proposal for the second stage, to be submitted by 4 July 2014.
In order to be considered, after reviewing the RIBA publications noted in this paper, please
complete the (very brief) form overleaf and return it to the RIBA by 6 June 2014.
EoI – the value and impact of architecture (workplace data)
1. Contact details
Organisation:
Name of organisation
Primary contact:
Name of primary contact
Contact email address:
Contact email address
Contact telephone number*:
Contact telephone number
*direct dial or mobile preferred
2. Data
What dataset/s do you propose to analyse for the research?
Enter the names of the dataset/s here
About the dataset:
Do you own the dataset? (preferred)
Have you open access to the dataset?
Have you paid access to the dataset? Please give approx. cost:
cost in GB £
Will you be able to give the RIBA a copy of the dataset and analysis (subject to use
agreements)?
3. Analysis
What metrics do you intend to compare?
Enter metrics here
What research question/s do you proposed to answer? (up to three)
1.
Research question 1
2.
Research question 2
3.
Research question 3
Timescale and cost
Will you be able to deliver the research by November 2014? (a full programme for the research
will be sought at the second stage – at present please make a reasonable judgement on whether
your organisation would be able to deliver within the proposed timescale).
Yes
No. Please give an estimate of a realistic delivery date: Estimated delivery date
Cost to deliver the research:
Cost in GB £
Please return expressions of interest by email to Anne Dye, RIBA Head of Technical Research,
c/o Miles Norman (miles.norman@riba.org) by 6 June 2014.