Welcome to the second in a series of posts to assist clients with their understanding of, and interaction with, the overall design and construction process. How do we port the conceptual design into preliminary drawings and specifications, then move it forward toward the building phase? We call this Design Development.

As the name suggests, Design Development is the process of developing the conceptual design into one we can begin to visualize. We further develop and document concepts we approached in the Schematic Design phase, creating in-progress drawings and specifications. The design team – architect, engineers and other consultants – continue to revise their work, coordinating with each other using client review comments.

In the Design Development phase, we determine the final physical configuration for the building and the layout of the interior spaces.

For the AV systems, this phase primarily involves the design of infrastructure components, those that affect other engineers’ work. The electrical and mechanical systems that support the AV systems are among these. Another, the system of conduit and back boxes, will eventually house the AV cabling and connections but are installed as part of the electrical contractor’s scope. The general architecture of the project, such as complex integration of equipment into architectural elements that may require special construction or enhanced structural design and may impact the project’s cost, are part of this plan, too.

While coordinating with the design team, the AV consultant will decide what devices are required for each system in the facility, and where each piece of equipment will be located. Some pieces are located in equipment racks. Large racks are often housed in dedicated rooms or in the client’s computer server room; smaller racks that serve local AV systems will be housed in local credenzas or nearby closets.

Other AV devices may include plates and panels that are located in the floor, on walls, and in or on the ceiling; these are intended to receive connections from nearby permanent or portable equipment. Integrating video projectors and projection screens in ways that minimize or eliminate impact to architectural aesthetics may also be required.

All of these components must be documented in the project drawings for continued cost estimating during Design Development. This is done for the AV systems by showing symbols that represent these individual AV components on the architectural background drawings developed and provided by the project architect. The resulting set of drawings, the AV Systems Device Location Drawings, is created by the AV consultant. Additional drawing will begin to reflect any custom integration elements required for the project, all coordinated between the architect and the AV consultant.

For the most part, the client is not involved in coordinating and developing these documents. However, the client is responsible for reviewing the documents and providing comments: Do they agree with the development of the design to date or desire to revise it in some way?

This process is critical for both sides. It provides the client an opportunity to interact with the design team, and it allows the consultant to revise the design based on feedback from both the client and the design team. Without this progressive and collaborative process, the result could be less than desirable.

So why make the point about how critical client review is? Through the Design Development phase, the process is focused on the client. Later, changes are possible but may compromise the project and increase cost.

It is easy for the client to be overwhelmed by the barrage of information that comes from all directions—from the architect, engineers, and consultants. Without a good plan to accomplish these reviews, the client may overlook something important or just skip review to reduce anxiety.

Since clients rarely take on new building projects, it makes sense to make the most of each. Planning well ahead of time allows the client to follow and participate in the design process in a way that will benefit them. That’s why we recommend that a client assign one internal person, someone familiar with technology, perhaps from the IT or AV department, to do the review.

Of course, the responsibility for client participation begins with a consultant. Your consultant should recognize the challenges you face with new construction or new AV systems and make the process as efficient, effective and comfortable as possible.

Once Design Development is 100% completed, the client should feel comfortable signing off on all aspects of the design. This is required to move into the next phase. So, as they say, onward and upward. The next stop: Construction Documents.

Until next time…