Profile: Convergence

Convergence /kon’ver’jenz/n
1. the integration of the disciplines of transportation, land use planning, facilities design and systems technology; and how they respond to market demands, the environment and community input, to create a seamless process and sustainable solution;

2. a shared vision to create livable sustainable communities, promoting smart solutions that speak to the relationship between development patterns and quality of life;

3. the structuring of public policy and private development patterns to support and implement coherent regional planning, complete communities and healthy ecosystems.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
A current example of Convergence centers upon IBI Group's work in the field of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). TOD represents a new trend in urban living that focuses upon compact, mixed-use development within pedestrian-friendly nodes, with transit stations at their core. TODs are intended as an alternative to current development practices and residents are able to live, work, shop, play and generally find all the necessities of life within a given node that is conveniently and quickly accessible by public transit.

This merging of land use and transportation patterns, combined with the application of technology for safe, efficient and productive environments, are prime examples of the Convergence of design disciplines – and represent the fundamental way in which IBI Group approaches its work.