Architekwiki
  • Home
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Other
    • Reading List
    • Ochre >
      • Ochre
      • Ochre KB
      • Ochre FAQs
      • Ochre Help
    • Details
    • The 3 Aspects
    • About
    • Subscription FAQs
    • Terms of Use
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Other
    • Reading List
    • Ochre >
      • Ochre
      • Ochre KB
      • Ochre FAQs
      • Ochre Help
    • Details
    • The 3 Aspects
    • About
    • Subscription FAQs
    • Terms of Use
  • Subscribe

Architekwiki

A Resource For Architects
Click here to get good stuff in your inbox

Categories

All
Business Development
Business Management
Design
Detail
Miscellaneous
Project Management
Resources

Archives

January 2023
November 2022
October 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
June 2021
May 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012

How To Design - Schematic Design

12/6/2020

 
Schematic Design
The benefits of this Seven Step Process of Schematic Design

This Schematic Design Process has been developed over many projects. But the nature of design is that there are many ways to get to the end result. The benefits of this Seven Step Process is that each step builds upon the last to avoid re-work, which is the killer of efficiency.

Use the process to explain to your client why you need information from them now rather than later (to avoid additional design costs for them). Whether you use this process or one of your own making, I highly recommend that you standardize on a methodology that your team can use to anticipate what to do.

Even with a standard like this, no two projects will follow it exactly. I think Eisenhower is supposed to have said something along the lines of "The plan is rarely very helpful, but the planning is indispensable."

​Also, remember to review each step with your client to make sure your interpretations and understandings are on target with their needs. Yes, pesky, but necessary.
​

Step 1 - Organization
  • Obtain a signed contract, set up billing information, establish your design budget.
  • Are there anticipated additional services? Make sure you understand what's expected by contract.
  • Review the Owner's Program and get any clarifications you need.
  • Review the context of the project - new site, addition, remodeling. Are there any obvious issues? Do you have a survey and geotechnical report to work with?
  • Has the Owner addressed any zoning issues? Does he expect you to investigate this?
  • Are there any code issues that will inform the design? Any other special approvals or constraints?
  • Set milestones that meet the Owner's timeline. Is it realistic?
  • Does the Owner's budget seem realistic? Does it cover more than construction? Verify if necessary.
  • Review a specification master Table of Contents for ideas/issues that might develop.
  • Have a Schematic Design Kickoff Meeting with your client to review what you are thinking and ask them for input. 


Step 2 - Site Analysis
Some of this may not apply, but it is best to start with the big picture.
  • What are the assets and liabilities? What are the opportunities to capitalize on? 
  • What are the zoning restrictions - setbacks, height limits, open area requirements? 
  • How will traffic flow onto and within the site? 
  • Where are utilities coming from? 
  • How can you work with topography? 
  • Where should the building be located, where parking?


Step 3 - Building Program
Digest the owner's program in detail. Keep in mind what you learned from the site analysis. 
  • What is the gross area? 
  • How many levels should there be? 
  • What spaces should be grouped together? What is the proper relationship between groups or departments? How big is each group? 
  • If more than one level, what goes on each level and how well do the levels stack? 
  • How much parking is required? By zoning? By yours or Owner's estimate?


Step 3.5 - Technical Design Diagnostic [TDD]
See what the Technical Design Diagnostic is all about here.
  • Complete the Technical Design Diagnostic at this point to further inform your design decisions.
  • Introduce your consultants to the project at this stage.


Step 4 - Bubble Diagram
Using the site analysis as a base drawing, and the building program as the pieces of the puzzle -  
  • Determine where building groups should be placed on the site and relative to one another.
  • Work out diagrammatically how site circulation will work and where parking will go? All Vaguely to scale. 
  • Try alternatives and weigh the pros and cons.
  • Take your best scheme to the next level.


Step 5 - Site/Floor Plan
Using the bubble diagram as your guide and the topo site plan as the base drawing, lay out the building ground floor to scale using blocks of space for each group or department. Include infrastructure spaces like stairs, elevators, toilets, major corridors, etc. if there are other levels show them as an exploded view or off to the side; but consider them critical to proof of concept. 

This is going to have a major impact on everything that comes after. Get all the input you are comfortable with. Sleep on the first solution(s). This isn't a final floor plan, so some loose ends are OK; but everything should hang together and look like all the project goals will be addressed.


Step 6 - Massing Diagram
When you have a lot of experience designing, you may have considered this step as part of step five. REVIT or Vectorworks may have allowed you to see where the design was heading in three dimensions. But the point of this step is to make sure the shape that the building is taking doesn't have unfortunate consequences. 
  • Will you be able to express the building's function in a positive way? 
  • Does it become obvious that utility entrances and building support spaces (e.g. dock) aren't going to get in the way of an attractive scheme. 

So if you have not considered these issues yet now is the time to block out the elevations or a 3D model to see what the layout decisions you have been making are giving you to work with. Now is the perfect time to decide to tweak the plan to achive the overall look you want for the building - say a symmetry that's not quite right yet. 
  • If you have sloping roofs in mind, it will be critical to make sure you have a building configuration that works with sloping roofs rather than fights it. 
  • Consider glass placement for aesthetics, orientation, heat gain, shading. 
  • These considerations might suggest ways to develop the floor plans. It is very easy to work some big picture issues out at this level of detail compared to farther along in the process.


Step 7 - Pulling It All Together 
  • Your civil, structural, mech/elect engineers should provide rudimentary drawings based on your scheme and an estimate of construction costs for their portion of the construction work. 
  • You should make sure your drawings are likewise coordinated internally. 
  • You might decide to add doors and windows to make the concept more understandable for the client, but it isnt mandatory.
  • 3D views, fly-bys, walk-thrus would all be nice. Consider them in light of the 'selling' that needs to be done with stakeholders and the promotional opportunities for you and your client.

​The end result you need is an acknowledgement that this is the building concept that you should pursue. Once given this approval, you are entitled to additional compensation if the concept changes significantly; so it is important that your client understands the project thoroughly. 


It is counterproductive to get a 'go-ahead’ from your client based on feelings. Make sure your client understands your design. Without understanding, dissatisfaction with the project later is much more likely.

​One dissatisfied client outweighs ten happy ones.
Picture

Comments are closed.
    Resources

    Start Here

    YouTube Channel

    Join The Mailing List

    Terms of Use
    Your use of Architekwiki is implicit agreement with the 
    ​
    Terms of Use.
    Thank You for your donation

    x
    Get Good Stuff in Your Inbox
    Picture
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Business Development
    Business Management
    Design
    Detail
    Miscellaneous
    Project Management
    Resources

Picture

Picture
VISIT ARCHITEKWIKI'S RESOURCES
​
START HERE
ABOUT
SIGN UP
TERMS OF USE
Architekwiki | Architect's Resource | Greater Cincinnati 
© 2012-2022   Architekwiki​