Circular Delivery Compass – A Decision Framework for Sustainable Building Models

AI Quick Summary

The Circular Delivery Compass aims to develop a practical, research-based decision-making methodology that helps project stakeholders select the most suitable delivery model—such as IPD or Design-Build—for achieving circular construction goals.While BIM has digitalized planning, delivery processes remain largely unchanged. Integrated models are essential enablers of reuse and collaboration—but there is currently no clear guidance on which model fits which project.Leveraging a strong network including the IPD Lab, Campus Sursee, Amberg Loglay, and HHM, and drawing on live project insights and BIM-based simulations, this project will create a structured framework to support early-stage decisions. The outcome is a usable, transferable tool: the Circular Delivery Compass. a. Brief introduction of the idea We aim to develop a practical, research-based decision-making methodology that helps clients, planners, and project teams select the most suitable delivery model—such as IPD or Design-Build—for circular building projects. The outcome will be the Circular Delivery Compass: an actionable, tested, and widely applicable tool.b. What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address? Circular goals often fail due to unsuitable project delivery methods. While models like IPD or Design-Build enable collaboration and reuse, there is no structured guidance on which model fits which context. This lack of clarity leads to missed opportunities for sustainability, efficiency, and integrated planning from the start.c. What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? We envision a construction industry where delivery model decisions are informed, transparent, and aligned with sustainability goals. Our project aims to fill a critical gap by developing the Circular Delivery Compass—a structured, evidence-based methodology for selecting project delivery models that best support circular ambitions. This approach is innovative because it integrates real-world project experience, academic research, and digital process simulations in a single applied framework. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all solution, the Compass compares strengths, limitations, and conditions under which models like IPD, Design-Build, or traditional approaches are most effective. Clients, especially public or sustainability-oriented developers, often lack the tools to evaluate delivery models systematically. Our tool empowers them to make confident, goal-aligned choices early on. Beneficiaries include public and private building owners, architects, general contractors, consultants, and policymakers. With better-aligned models, they can reduce emissions, foster cooperation, and enable reuse at scale—while improving cost control, timeline adherence, and user satisfaction. Ultimately, society and the environment benefit from a more efficient, human-centered, and climate-resilient construction industry supported by integrated and adaptive delivery systems.d. How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? The Circular Delivery Compass supports a paradigm shift in how we plan and manage construction projects. By promoting reuse-friendly, collaborative processes, it reduces material waste, lowers emissions, and supports more regenerative design strategies. The tool also improves stakeholder engagement and cooperation, which contributes to healthier work environments and fewer project conflicts. Economically, choosing the right delivery model early on enhances project efficiency and lifecycle performance. Socially, it promotes a culture of transparency, responsibility, and shared goals. Overall, our methodology enables systemic impact by aligning decision-making with the principles of circularity, creating long-term value for people, planet, and prosperity.e. What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? We assume that the success of circular construction projects depends significantly on the selected project delivery model—and that this decision must be made early, based on structured criteria. Currently, no practical tool exists to guide this choice in a way that balances complexity, sustainability, and feasibility. During the booster, we will test and co-develop a prototype decision-making framework—the Circular Delivery Compass—through a combination of literature review, expert interviews, stakeholder workshops, and simulations in our BIM Lab. This includes comparative analysis of models (e.g., IPD, Design-Build, Traditional), criteria mapping (e.g., project type, team setup, reuse potential), and integration of live project learnings from the IPD Lab. The goal is to create a validated and usable tool that can support real-world decision-making by building owners, planners, and advisors. The final output will be a professionally designed Compass prototype that includes: (1) model comparisons, (2) a criteria-based decision matrix, and (3) example applications. This prototype will be packaged for further development and testing in pilot projects and can be scaled and adapted for different user groups. The project lays the groundwork for a new standard in circular project delivery strategy.f. Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? Several IPD and Design-Build projects are currently being supported by members of the IPD Lab, offering valuable case-based insights. However, these experiences have not yet been translated into a formal methodology for comparing delivery models in relation to circularity and project goals. What remains to be tested is the development and validation of a generalizable tool that allows early-phase decision-makers to assess their project’s needs and select the optimal delivery model accordingly. Our project is the first attempt to formalize this process into a structured framework that is usable, adaptable, and evidence-based.g. Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? The project is led by the IPD Lab, a national innovation platform involving more than ten companies and institutions focused on integrated project delivery and sustainable construction. The initiative is driven by the Steering Board, which is currently establishing a dedicated working group on delivery models for circular projects. Our network combines practical, digital, and strategic expertise from organizations such as Campus Sursee, Amberg Loglay, and HHM. Additionally, we collaborate with research institutions including FHNW and ZHAW, whose roles include methodological development, academic validation, and structured stakeholder engagement. This multidisciplinary team brings together academic rigor and practical experience to ensure that the Circular Delivery Compass is not only theoretically sound but also widely applicable and ready for implementation in real projects.h. How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? The required third-party funding will be secured through a mix of in-kind and financial contributions. Project partners such as Amberg Loglay, Campus Sursee, and members of the IPD Lab Steering Board have already expressed their willingness to contribute to the initiative. In addition, the project team will allocate internal funds from ongoing research and innovation budgets. The collaborative nature of the project enables efficient resource use, and existing infrastructure (e.g., BIM Lab) will be leveraged to reduce additional costs. All necessary commitments will be secured before the project start to ensure full compliance with funding requirements.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Circular Delivery Compass – A Decision Framework for Sustainable Building Models
• Date: 4/8/2025 10:09:35 AM
• Administrators:
  • Maximilian Richter

Project Idea Description

a. Brief introduction of the idea

We aim to develop a practical, research-based decision-making methodology that helps clients, planners, and project teams select the most suitable delivery model—such as IPD or Design-Build—for circular building projects. The outcome will be the Circular Delivery Compass: an actionable, tested, and widely applicable tool.

b. What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address?

Circular goals often fail due to unsuitable project delivery methods. While models like IPD or Design-Build enable collaboration and reuse, there is no structured guidance on which model fits which context. This lack of clarity leads to missed opportunities for sustainability, efficiency, and integrated planning from the start.

c. What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem?

We envision a construction industry where delivery model decisions are informed, transparent, and aligned with sustainability goals. Our project aims to fill a critical gap by developing the Circular Delivery Compass—a structured, evidence-based methodology for selecting project delivery models that best support circular ambitions.

This approach is innovative because it integrates real-world project experience, academic research, and digital process simulations in a single applied framework. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all solution, the Compass compares strengths, limitations, and conditions under which models like IPD, Design-Build, or traditional approaches are most effective.

Clients, especially public or sustainability-oriented developers, often lack the tools to evaluate delivery models systematically. Our tool empowers them to make confident, goal-aligned choices early on.

Beneficiaries include public and private building owners, architects, general contractors, consultants, and policymakers. With better-aligned models, they can reduce emissions, foster cooperation, and enable reuse at scale—while improving cost control, timeline adherence, and user satisfaction.

Ultimately, society and the environment benefit from a more efficient, human-centered, and climate-resilient construction industry supported by integrated and adaptive delivery systems.

d. How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future?

The Circular Delivery Compass supports a paradigm shift in how we plan and manage construction projects. By promoting reuse-friendly, collaborative processes, it reduces material waste, lowers emissions, and supports more regenerative design strategies. The tool also improves stakeholder engagement and cooperation, which contributes to healthier work environments and fewer project conflicts.

Economically, choosing the right delivery model early on enhances project efficiency and lifecycle performance. Socially, it promotes a culture of transparency, responsibility, and shared goals. Overall, our methodology enables systemic impact by aligning decision-making with the principles of circularity, creating long-term value for people, planet, and prosperity.

e. What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end?

We assume that the success of circular construction projects depends significantly on the selected project delivery model—and that this decision must be made early, based on structured criteria. Currently, no practical tool exists to guide this choice in a way that balances complexity, sustainability, and feasibility.

During the booster, we will test and co-develop a prototype decision-making framework—the Circular Delivery Compass—through a combination of literature review, expert interviews, stakeholder workshops, and simulations in our BIM Lab. This includes comparative analysis of models (e.g., IPD, Design-Build, Traditional), criteria mapping (e.g., project type, team setup, reuse potential), and integration of live project learnings from the IPD Lab.

The goal is to create a validated and usable tool that can support real-world decision-making by building owners, planners, and advisors.

The final output will be a professionally designed Compass prototype that includes: (1) model comparisons, (2) a criteria-based decision matrix, and (3) example applications.

This prototype will be packaged for further development and testing in pilot projects and can be scaled and adapted for different user groups. The project lays the groundwork for a new standard in circular project delivery strategy.

f. Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested?

Several IPD and Design-Build projects are currently being supported by members of the IPD Lab, offering valuable case-based insights. However, these experiences have not yet been translated into a formal methodology for comparing delivery models in relation to circularity and project goals.

What remains to be tested is the development and validation of a generalizable tool that allows early-phase decision-makers to assess their project’s needs and select the optimal delivery model accordingly.

Our project is the first attempt to formalize this process into a structured framework that is usable, adaptable, and evidence-based.

g. Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring?

The project is led by the IPD Lab, a national innovation platform involving more than ten companies and institutions focused on integrated project delivery and sustainable construction. The initiative is driven by the Steering Board, which is currently establishing a dedicated working group on delivery models for circular projects.

Our network combines practical, digital, and strategic expertise from organizations such as Campus Sursee, Amberg Loglay, and HHM.

Additionally, we collaborate with research institutions including FHNW and ZHAW, whose roles include methodological development, academic validation, and structured stakeholder engagement.

This multidisciplinary team brings together academic rigor and practical experience to ensure that the Circular Delivery Compass is not only theoretically sound but also widely applicable and ready for implementation in real projects.

h. How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required?

The required third-party funding will be secured through a mix of in-kind and financial contributions. Project partners such as Amberg Loglay, Campus Sursee, and members of the IPD Lab Steering Board have already expressed their willingness to contribute to the initiative.

In addition, the project team will allocate internal funds from ongoing research and innovation budgets. The collaborative nature of the project enables efficient resource use, and existing infrastructure (e.g., BIM Lab) will be leveraged to reduce additional costs.

All necessary commitments will be secured before the project start to ensure full compliance with funding requirements.

The Circular Delivery Compass aims to develop a practical, research-based decision-making methodology that helps project stakeholders select the most suitable delivery model—such as IPD or Design-Build—for achieving circular construction goals.

While BIM has digitalized planning, delivery processes remain largely unchanged. Integrated models are essential enablers of reuse and collaboration—but there is currently no clear guidance on which model fits which project.

Leveraging a strong network including the IPD Lab, Campus Sursee, Amberg Loglay, and HHM, and drawing on live project insights and BIM-based simulations, this project will create a structured framework to support early-stage decisions. The outcome is a usable, transferable tool: the Circular Delivery Compass.