MIT BUILDING SYSTEMS

Stakeholder Groups and Design ReviewThe Handbook is organized into 16 divisions loosely based on the CSI format. Sections within the divisionscorrespond to the MIT Stakeholder groups which consist of individuals within the Department of Facilitieswho, based on their particular experience and responsibilities at MIT, have contributed to the infomationcontained in that division. Each stakeholder assisted in the writing of the sections within the divisions. Thesesame Stakeholders are the principal participants in the ongoing Design Review process that takes placeduring the design phases of a construction project. See BUILDING SYSTEMS REVIEW MATRIX.MIT Project Managers and the Design Review Process:The process of Design Review is built around the traditional milestones of the design process. The processmay be streamlined at the discretion of MIT’s Project Manager as a response to the size of the project;however, no project at MIT should be exempt from the process. At each design milestone (typically Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Drawings) the designer will be required to submit tothe MIT Project Manager a completed Design Review Checklist* found in each of the sections of theHandbook . This checklist, which must be signed and dated by the consultant, will highlight areas inwhich full compliance has been accomplished as well as areas where the designer may be requesting variances.Project Managers will review the completed checklist and based on its thoroughness will schedule the formalDesign Review Meeting with the stakeholder groups.The MIT Project Manager has the pivotal role in the design process as the person responsible for balancinga project’s program, budget, schedule and Handbook compliance. Since the right balance among theseproject factors is often difficult to maintain, the Project Manager must work closely with the Stakeholders andwith the Directors of the Department of Facilities:oThe Project Manager will work closely with the Stakeholders group to seeksatisfactory solutions when conflicts arise between strict Handbookcompliance and the established project budget or schedule.oIf Handbook/budget/schedule conflicts remain unresolved, the Project Manager candecide to request a review by the group of Directors.The Design Handbook and its checklists augment the extensive procedural information already provided to the Institute’s Project Managers in the Department of Facilities Project Management Manual.Value Engineering and Changes during ConstructionChanges from the approved design during construction or after bids are received can undermine the DesignReview process and the intent of the Handbook itself. After Construction Drawings are completed,ongoing reviews and changes to the project could be in conflict with prior agreements and understanding of theStakeholder Groups. For this reason any deviations from the Handbook due to value engineering or constructionchanges must go through the Project Manager in accordance with the Design Review process.* See also Required Engineering Documentation, a list of specific information including calculationsrequired by the MIT Engineering Stakeholders group for every project.BUILDING SYSTEMSDESIGN HANDBOOKver. 1.1

OverviewThe new DESIGN HANDBOOK is created in PDF format in cross-platform software developed by Adobe.This PDF format is easy to open and read with any operating system and computer profile. Althoughnavigation through the document is not difficult, there is basic help available in the PDF reader found in theupper right hand corner of the tool bar (Reader Online Guide).A few basic elements of the CODE with which users should familiarize themselves: The CODE is organized loosely on a CSI format with divergences to better mesh with how MIT’s Department of Facilities is organized. Each Division can be accessed through the main index page or throughthe Division Index pages. Links to related items are highlighted throughout the CODE. They are color coded and the curser willchange to a hand when dragged over this text. When selected (mouse click) the user will be sent to theconnected commentary found in another section. Each section of the Code is divided into three parts.ABCPart A: Mission Statement and Design GuidelinesDiscussion of the goals and features particular to MIT for each section along withspecific design guidelines. The guidelines may be more rigorous than the governing codes or may be peculiar to MIT. The Mission Statement intends guide thedesigner in reading between the lines and assist in those design areas that are notyet covered in the Handbook.Part B: Special Design CriteriaMaterial in this part will guide the designer on specific needs and requirements forelements found in the section. Only design criteria that is of interest to MIT incontrolling will be listed here.Part C: Products:All products falling under the section that would likely be used on projects at MITwill be listed here along with MIT’s preference for manufacturers (if any) or otherpertinent commentary. Next are the four principal Overlays which provide commentary for that section related to particulartopics which are important at MIT: Operations, EHS, Green Design, and Lab Services with an additional category, Institute Spaces and Art, Architecture and Preservation. Throughout the CODE, foursymbols appear in margins which which highlight information for the designer within four overlaycategories that are important to MIT and not defined by CSI sections. (See next page for Overlays) Finally, there is a Design Review Checklist that will be an important tool for assisting MIT’s projectmanager to be certain that the designer is following the instructions in the Handbook.BUILDING SYSTEMSDESIGN HANDBOOKver. 1.1

OverlaysOperations:Designation signifies that there are implications to be considered for the designer withrespect to MIT repair and maintenance practices. MIT has extensive knowledge aboutproducts and approaches to detailing that have worked well in the past or have not performed satisfactorily. The wrench symbol will direct the designer to commentary andperhaps examples of installations for the specific item listed.EHS: Environmental Health and Safety:Designation signifies elements that require careful consideration by the designer withrespect to environmental and safety issues. These would include items such as fireprotection, egress, air quality, and materials used in construction (Material Safety DataSheets).Green Design:Designation signifies an opportunity for the designer to implement environmentally conscious design that typically integrates some aspect of sustainability, energy conservation, or renewable resources. Other features of specifying local materials and non-polluting manufactured and waste products are included in this section.Lab ServicesDesignation signifies elements that are particular to laboratory design including MIT’spreferred methods for providing the extensive mechanical and electrical services requiredin teaching and research laboratories.BUILDING SYSTEMSDESIGN HANDBOOKver. 1.1

NavigationAlthough users will find their own ways to work their way through the Handbook, a few general guidlenes mayinitially be helpful:ßStart with the Table of Contents. This page can always be accessed through the “index” button foundon every Divisions sub-contents. Any CSI division can be found through the Table of Contents.ßThe Division Table of Contents will link to each sub-heading in the Division. Note that the Sectionswhich have been revised for this Version 1.0 will appear in red in the Table of Contents while thosesections which have not been updated appear in gray. From within the body of a sub-heading (such asDoors and Windows), click on the side header banner that labels the section to return to the DivisionTable of Contents by.ßAlthough not developed for this edition, an index is planned to be located at the end of the Handbook thatwill direct the user to specific items.ßThere is a search function in the PDF reader that will find words of phrases within the documentßThe entire code can be printed as a hard copy. Note that there are several hundred pages so the hardcopy will be somewhat unwieldy. Again, use of the electronic format is encouraged not only for itsconvenience but because also because the built-in coordination among sections can be realized onlythrough the hyperlinked jumps.BUILDING SYSTEMSDESIGN HANDBOOKver. 1.1

UpdatesThe Design Handbook will be updated periodically and MIT will notify all active designers about the update.The update will be distributed by MIT on CDROM. Each update will contain an explanation of which sectionshave been changed so that hard copies can be amended without re-printing the entire document. Each pageof the Handbook will include the version label so that users can identify immediately the most recent update.The Handbook will be maintained by MIT’s Handbook Manager who will be responsible for collecting comments and routing themto the proper stakeholder group for review. Ultimate responsibility for the rewritingand updating of each section will lie with the stakeholder group however the Handbook Manager will implement the change and distribute the new versions.In addition to successive insertions of updated and re-formatted sections, future versions of the Handbook ofDesign Practice will contain interactive links that can be activated by a mouse click. In addition to the Overlaysymbols which appear in the margins beside relevant text throughout the Handbook , individual sections willbe included for each Overlay Group: Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Green Design, and Laboratory Services. Finally, cross-referencing links will be activated among all sections to reinforce coordinationamong the disciplines. For example, HVAC equipment requiring new power service will be linked to theElectrical section.Email any comments or suggestions to Handboo

The DESIGN HANDBOOK describes MIT’s goals for building systems as well as certain special requirements for all construction projects. MIT’s Project Managers, design consultants and MIT Stakeholders will use this HANDBOOK as a working template for the ongoing building system design and review process throughout the design and construction .