The Design Quality Indicator (DQI) is a pioneering tool, developed by the Construction Industry Council (CIC), to help create buildings of quality.

Colander was a member of the original Steering Group that pioneered the DQI in 2002 and continues to take an active role in its development: Caroline Cole sits on the DQI Development Board, which is responsible for future development and improvements to the tool.

Caroline is also responsible, with the CIC, for training and accrediting DQI Facilitators, who help stakeholders apply the DQI to individual projects.

The DQI is a generic tool that can be applied to different building types at different stages in a project’s development. Some sector specific versions have been developed and the DQI for Schools is mandatory on all Building Schools for the Future projects.

It is an interactive tool, with three main functions:

• To help develop the design brief for a new building.

• To evaluate whether or not the design proposals will create buildings of quality.

• To aid communication between the extraordinary diversity of people who are involved in creating a building, generating discussions around that elusive thing broadly known as ‘design quality’.

For further information about the tool, and to find out how to become an accredited DQI Facilitator please visit the DQI website