Sustainability Indicators in Building Construction Projects through the Lens of Project Delivery Elements

Sustainability indicators have been developed since 1990s to be utilized in construction projects as tools and instruments for achieving higher level sustainability. Achieving sustainability goals in construction projects can be affected by the delivery model in place in a positive or negative manner, as it accounts for accomplishing project definition, design, planning, and execution phases. With any construction project we can recognize three main delivery elements which are project organization, contractual relationships, and operational system. This study aims to address the role of these project delivery elements in the application of sustainability indicators in building construction projects. To do so, a literature study was carried out and qualitative analysis of the relevant studies led to the identification of sustainability indicators, barriers, and enablers in building construction. Then, these indicators, barriers, and enablers were analysed and structured within a model based on their relation to the elements of construction project delivery. The findings present a sustainability model for building construction, revealing the connection between the project delivery elements and the identified barriers and enablers for the application of the sustainability indicators. These findings contribute toward facilitating sustainable construction through project delivery and provide a frame of reference for the future studies.