This paper traces the development of building construction from the simple shelters of nomadic tribes to the complex structures of today, along with our concepts of a building’s purpose and design. The Industrial Revolution created a need for a separate class of craftsmen to construct buildings with new types of components and materials. The design process, therefore, became a complex, labor-intensive, information processing task. With the impact of computer technology to areas such as decision support and architectural rendering, the design process has evolved into a capital-intensive one and has decreased the demand for traditional manual skills.

In this well-written and interesting paper, the author compares buildings to organic systems that evolve through time and require careful management. He discusses the use of facilities management software to create databases that monitor a building’s space, occupants, and activities, and the relationships between them.

The author concludes that computers will continue to be used in the design and management of buildings. Indeed, design and management activities will become more closely integrated in the future.