Based on this  transdisciplinary  approach, the course supports the design and development of intelligent facilities into the next millennium, by promoting leading edge design, construction and management using an appropriate level of technology, balanced with business and sustainability considerations.

The success of the course is shown by it having attracted students from across the world and from a wide range of leading organisations. Bringing together participants from all areas of the design, property development and management sectors, the course challenges many of the problems associated with the traditional fragmented approach to construction, and will encourage the creation of buildings which are more responsive and adaptable.

The new approach building design rather inadequately represented by the words 'Intelligent Buildings' aims to promote the construction of buildings which are both more responsive to users' needs, and much more adaptable to changes inevitably demanded by future or by current users as their requirements change.

Those teaching the course come from all parts of the design, property and client sectors, with the aim of avoiding some of the problems of a fragmented approach to construction.

Widespread international interest has been aroused since its launch in 1997, co-ordinated by the School of Construction Management & Engineering, with the strong support of Intelligent Buildings Group.

Enquiries have come to from many countries from Europe to the Middle and Far East. It has been good to see that those registering for the programme include architects, designers, facilities managers, environmentalists and technical systems experts. As the Course Director, Croome, commented, ‘This is just the kind of mix we were hoping for, to achieve closer interdisciplinary working”.

The students all feel that the course has significantly enhanced their approach to their work and the design and production of buildings of the future.