LAS VEGAS — Integrated Project Deliver (IPD) is a topic that continues to be discussed among design professionals, especially at industry events and conferences. Three recent events have generated dialogue around this project delivery method as practitioners try to define exactly what it is.

Integrated Project Delivery eConference — Presented by Stagnito Media on April 22, more than 600 attendees and four sponsors participated in this virtual event. Within three scheduled chats, participants discussed topics such as Strategic Onboarding – The Challenges of Transitioning Your Staff to an IPD Mindset, moderated by Will Ikerd PE, CWI, Founder and Director, Department of Integrated Project Delivery, Raymond L. Goodson Jr., Inc.; and Team Perspectives – What is the Structural Engineer’s Role in the Process of IPD?, moderated by Jennifer Goupil, PE, Editor, Structural Engineering & Design and Sustainable Engineering, Stagnito Media.

Webcast presentations included Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): Six Case Studies, by Jonathan Cohen, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal, Jonathan Cohen and Associates; Exploring the Legal Implications of Building Information Modeling and Integrated Project Delivery, Jay Wickersham, FAIA, Esq., Noble & Wickersham LLP; and Exploring the Outlook and Best Markets for Integrated Project Delivery, Jerry Guerra, Principal, The JAGG Group. The website is archived at www.gostructural.com/webcasts.

NASCC: The Steel Conference/The Structures Congress — There are two sides to every story, and IPD is no exception. For every advocate of the benefits of the process, there are naysayers poking holes in the theories. During last week’s combined industry event, Chairman and CEO Jon Magnusson, of Magnusson Klemencic Associates, presented “A Candid Conversation About the Business Ramifications of BIM and IPD.” He presented many of the business challenges presented by BIM and particularly IPD. Coincidentally, ENR Buildings Editor Nadine Post authored “Integrated-Project-Delivery Boosters Ignore Many Flashing Red Lights,” available at www.enr.com, which also discusses some of the trade-offs and new consequences of this relatively new contracting method.

AEC Technology Strategies 2010 Conference — This well-attended annual event sponsored by Stagnito Media has a laser focus on the information technology conference for business and IT leaders in architecture, engineering, and construction. Held last week, May 20-21 in Las Vegas, one of the many topics of interest was IPD. Presenters from both the design side and representatives from industry approached the topic from many fronts, including David Odeh, P.E., SECB, Principal, Odeh Engineers, Inc., presented “Building Better Projects and Client Relationships Using Integrated BIM and IPD” while Joe Giegerich, President of Gig Werks and Edwin Elmendorp, President of Cadac Organice Americas co-presented “IPD and Engineering Document Management for the AEC Enterprise with SharePoint and the Microsoft Stack.” Learn more about the event, and soon-to-come archived “best of” sessions at www.AECTechStrategies.com.

While design professionals, contractors, and owners are still experimenting with the degrees of IPD, some projects are going forward leveraging the strengths of this project delivery method. While the industry still has a lot to learn, many are out there discussing IPD: the theories, the successes, and of course, the challenges.