Keeping a project moving forward to finish on time starts long before the shovels come out. A well laid plan and clear project vision crafted early in design are the rails by which teams meet success.
So, to help you stack the deck in your favor, we offer these five tips from experts in project management and design.
#1. Before you pick your Design Team, know what you need and want.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s actually quite common for design consultants to encounter confusion on what owners really want —especially when there are multiple project stakeholders involved. Knowing what you want will save hours of time in the predesign process and help you to manage costly scope changes later.
To prevent time lost to untangling crossed wires, create a comprehensive scope of work with clear expectations for both parties and thorough understanding of what the project entails.
If you’re unsure what your requirements are, you can always work with a consultant architect to help you with your preplanning.
#2. Choose stakeholders carefully.
Ensure that the stakeholders at the table are truly representative of their group, and don’t forget your Maintenance & Operations personnel! These folks are knowledgeable about how buildings should work to maximize user comfort and safety.
#3. Go with your gut.
Your design team should make you feel comfortable and be a team of people you would work with well. Projects can span years, so—while you want top notch talent—you’ll also want an expert team you actually enjoy working with.
#4. Choose a design team that is passionate.
While cost is always a factor, don’t pick your design team based on the lowest fee amount. More important is the best fit. If you view design teams as providing a commodity rather than a service, you increase the chances of being dissatisfied with the process and the final result. Firms that pare down their fee to bare bones won’t be as engaged in your project as they will be in controlling their profit and loss.
#5. Set yourself and your team up for success.
Have an early strategic meeting with the Design Team to make sure that everyone has the same primary goals. Open up and share yours. Are your goals related to finances? Speed? Sustainability?
Set schedule goals based on entitlement and market facts. For example, if you know that Master Use Permitting takes 8 months, plan to allow 8 months. If your MUP is done in six, that’s gravy.
A bit about copyrights and use of instruments of service: be clear about expectations regarding who gets to keep what items. The contract should be fair to both parties so each gets what they need without infringing on the other’s rights.
