Construction projects are very sensitive and costly affairs with each project having its own strengths, challenges, and nuances. Therefore, extensive planning from the very early stage is needed to ensure maximum value at optimum cost and time scale. This calls for complete analysis in the pre-design phase to develop a solid foundation for the industrial project.
It is a highly collaborative and communication-intensive affair requiring a team consisting of clients, designers, planners, estimators, etc. This team works together to address all issues, establish critical goals cost & schedule efficiencies, analyze and validate budget. The target is to obtain maximum value while achieving design and budget goals. Since each industrial project is unique having a different design and budget goals, it is not possible to work on set rules.
Client-Consultant commitment is important
Pre-Design services should be central to the commitment of the client and the design consultant. This will create project-specific strategies to manage, control, and document the objectives during the early stages of project development. The time and money spent on the pre-design services will ultimately transform into big savings realized during construction.
Continuity of the team is important
After the Pre-Design activities, the same team shall participate in the critical decision-making process of the project. This shall include design, value engineering, planning, scheduling, reviews, and more.
When to appoint a design consultant?
The extent of service provided by the consultant depends on the point at which the design consultant is hired. Therefore, the client shall engage the design consultant well in advance to ensure the proper execution of this stage. This will help establish early goals in terms of meeting technical requirements and budget, work on alternatives & value-engineering.
Broadly the Pre-Design services shall consist of the following:
- Engineering Consultation
- Initial Design Brief
- Master Plan/ Facility Design
- Conceptual Design
- Schematic Design
- Industrial project Cost Estimate
- Value Engineering
- Integrated Master Scheduling and Planning
- Regulatory Compliances
