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Step 2 - Preliminary Design Phase
 Whether you know exactly how you want your design to look or
whether you only have a vague notion, the main purpose of the
Preliminary Design Phase (PDP) is to take your project ideas out
of your head and to put them on paper! In order to prepare the
final construction drawings,
all major aspects of the design need to be clarified. These issues
are determined during the Preliminary Design Phase.
The preliminary design phase is a process of redefining or
reinventing ideas until a successful design is achieved.
Preliminary design drawings start with the development of a series
of very rough sketches. These sketches typically consist of floor
plans, site plans, exterior elevations and cross sections. As the
design process continues, the sketches become more and more
detailed until a successful preliminary design is achieved.
During the PDP, Greenwood & Moore, Inc.
(G&M) works to ensure that the final design:
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Meets the client’s minimum
expectations for the project. For example, the design will
provide the minimum number of bedrooms, bathrooms, closet
space, etc.
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Is aesthetically pleasing –
the client likes the “look” of the design.
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Makes every attempt to stay
within the client’s construction budget. |
When the preliminary Design Phase
is complete, clients take with them a basic set of drawings that
can be used for several different purposes. Three common uses are:
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To allow the Client to
confirm that that design meets their expectations.
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To help the client obtain a
more accurate construction budget than was previously
available.
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If required, to assist the
client in obtaining preliminary design approvals from the
local planning department, homeowners association, etc.
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 Once the Preliminary Design Phase
is finished, G&M will have
enough information to prepare detailed specifications and
construction drawings. This is
Phase 3
of the
Residential Design Process.
If you are just beginning the PDP or are still in the research
phase, please continue reading to find out what you can provide to
G&M to make the PDP run more
smoothly. Or continue to Step 3: Construction Document Phase.
What is your construction budget?
When G&M begins the
preliminary design of a project we ask our clients to provide us
with a Preliminary Construction Budget. Most clients do not have a
budget or would like to spend as little as possible. This section
is designed to help clients develop a Preliminary Construction
Budget using our simple
Construction Budget
Worksheet here.
The reason that we ask for a construction budget is that it will
allow us to gauge if the project is feasible within the client’s
budget. For example, if a client wants to construct a 750 square
foot, second story room addition with a construction budget of
$50,000, we know from experience that a project of this magnitude
realistically costs between $90,000 and $120,000. In this case we
would advise the client that the preliminary construction budget
does not appear to be adequate for the project.
G&M and the client would then
have the opportunity to modify the design requirements or to
increase the construction budget before any significant amount of
design money is spent.
Download our Construction Budget worksheet
to view typical construction costs. |
