This study describes a new approach to building integrated design using distributed object technology. It identifies a number of issues involved in integrating tools initially developed for stand-alone use into an integrated design environment and shows how this approach can be used to address these issues. The benefits of this approach are illustrated by the description of IBADS, an integrated building analysis and design environment, implemented during this research effort. IBADS uses the proposed approach to integrate commercial off-the-shelf software packages AutoCAD, Etabs and Steeler into an environment for design of 2-D frames.