Introduction
Design development is a fascinating counterpart to the construction management process. Similar to other phases, it has a specific purpose and is just as valuable as the others. This counterpart is defined by identifying materials, equipment, and systems. Moreover, the design will become a portrayal of the finished building. Finally, in design development, the architect distills the project owner’s ideas into a roadmap for multiple employees to follow.
Definition
It is crucial to know what this phase means to understand its value. As mentioned earlier, it is defined by the identification of materials, equipment, and systems. During this period, the project owner and author collaborate to develop plans, details, and schematics for their work.
Through design development, the latter takes the former’s ideas and transforms them into a roadmap for multiple stakeholders. This phase is a reasonable continuation of the schematic design phase and precedes the construction documents period (Warthen, 2022; Gilliand Construction Management, 2019). That way, the drawing is refined to create a final design for the work.
Process
The process varies depending on the nature of the project; however, there are some main aspects. Initially, the interior and exterior materials are analyzed, along with a life-cycle cost breakdown and a preliminary first-cost estimate. The life-cycle costs are reviewed in collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers to assess equipment and system costs. The goal is to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each option and make an informed decision.
Cost estimates are yet another crucial aspect of design development. The architect may cooperate with the contractor for this counterpart. Moreover, they can involve a third-party cost estimator. Typically, the design development phase concludes with a 3D rendering of the building design, created using imaging technology, which provides an idea of the finished product’s appearance. By the end of this period, the customer should have a clear understanding of the project’s construction cost.
Risks
This phase has fewer risks than the others, as the architect and the project owner are the parties most involved. Due to this aspect, contractors are not yet entirely focused on the project (Scalisi, 2022). Design development involves multiple weekly or biweekly meetings, site visits, and ongoing plan reviews until the team achieves its goal. Moreover, if a project owner chooses not to pay an architect, the latter should be protected. This ensures the safety of the phase and its proper implementation.
Preparation and Other Aspects
Several key features must be considered in the process. First, it is advisable to keep the group small for this phase, as a larger group may hinder decision-making and affect the project’s schedule. However, a larger group can be helpful in cases such as creating casework drawings or choosing furniture.
Nonetheless, this type of research is typically conducted in the pre-design phase, where ideas are reviewed for suitability for design development. Decision-making is the primary focus of this phase, and it should be discussed with the team. Moreover, the project manager should have a proper comprehension of the work’s objectives. By accentuating long-term priorities, one can acquire significant advantages from the budget.
Conclusion
In conclusion, design development is a stage between schematic design and construction documents. It requires fewer risks, as the main contributors are the architect and the project manager. The primary aspects of design development include analyzing materials and systems and generating cost estimates. With regular meetings and effective communication, this phase is likely to proceed smoothly. That way, the customer will receive an accurate representation of the finished project while accounting for budget limitations.
References
Gilliland Construction Management. (2019). The design development phase.
Scalisi, T. (2022). What is the design development phase of a construction project? Levelset.
Warthen, B. (2022). What is design development – What to expect. Neumann Monson.