The surprising benefits of the design review process
Design Review Panel:
A carefully selected group of qualified professionals who independently review a design and provide feedback to the authors that will improve the design.
Most governments and some councils have Design Review Panels in place. However, anyone embarking on a building project can commission a Design Review Panel to ensure the best possible design solution. It is highly recommended for school boards, college boards and aged care boards who are spending millions of dollars on a project as it provides vital feedback at the outset of a project before it is too late or too costly to change.
How many times have you heard at the end of a project, “We should have” or “Unfortunately we did not think about ”
Projects with Design Review Panels in place are more successful, more fit for purpose and have more creative outcomes.
Slick presentation drawings can mask potential design problems. Clients undertaking a building project often accept the initial concept presented by the architect with only minor feedback about the practicalities of some of the planning, or relationships between the spaces. They are often reluctant to comment on the three-dimensional envelope as it is a mysterious area, out of bounds and created by the architect. Their unfamiliarity with manipulating space does not allow them to envisage what could be.
The Design Review should take place in the Schematic Design stage and the Design Development stage. The Schematic Design phase (sometime referred to as Concept Design) is very important as it determines the way a building will develop. Whilst not set in stone, it is actually a strong determinant on how the final design will turn out. Expert input at the start of a project will ensure a better design solution.
Imagine having the best creative minds, experienced in your building type, looking over the schematic design and making improvements based on their extensive experience and understanding of your brief.
This is what the design review process is all about. Often architectural practices will hold design reviews in-house with staff commenting on design proposals before they are presented to the client. But an independent design review process is even more powerful and will result in a much better outcome. The potential savings made by having this review can far outweigh the modest cost of the review. Often an independent expert eye can immediately see where efficiencies can be made.
When running a design review process, I chose the most appropriately skilled architects or other appropriate professionals to review your project and suggest improvements. It gives you peace of mind to know that everything has been considered and the design is the best it can be. For a small outlay at the beginning of the project, you will be well on the way to a better design that may in fact save you a lot of money over the course of the project.