Development of an Integrated Digital Design Process for the Façade design of the Adaptive Building D1244

Jonathan Hernandez Lopez^*Katrin Chwalek^*Lucio Blandini^*

• University of Stuttgart, Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design ILEK, Stuttgart, Germany

Adaptive façades (AF) can reduce resource use and enable climate-responsive building envelopes, yet their development typically involves heterogeneous software environments that hinder interoperability and consistent information exchange. This paper develops and validates an Integrated Digital Design Process (IDDP) framework using the adaptive high-rise building D1244 ground-floor adaptive façade systems (FiberSKIN, MagneticSKIN, and the Canopy) as case studies. The workflows were systematically mapped across lifecycle phases, stakeholder roles, component interfaces, and digital methods to locate phases with intensified coordination demand and recurring data-exchange breakdowns. Results show that, without predefined exchange interfaces or a shared collaborative model, interdisciplinary coordination relies on non‑standardized data transformations between discipline‑specific tools, causing inefficiencies and communication gaps, particularly during early design and detailed design coordination. Based on these findings, the IDDP introduces early definition of digital exchange interfaces, structured handover points, and a project-wide Integrated Digital Design Process Manager (IDDPM) role to govern responsibilities, interoperability decisions, and information management across phases. The framework provides an actionable basis for improving digital collaboration in complex AF projects and for more consistently integrating sustainability-oriented assessments into iterative decision-making.