Introducing the key teamsAn introduction to the key teams involved in a building project, and a discussion around their particular roles and responsibilities, can be very helpful for users embarking on a project for the first time. The three key teams are client, design and project. A primary objective of the project leader/manager is to understand the different roles and responsibilities of each team and to use this knowledge to plot the most feasible way forward for the project.
The client team is responsible for setting project vision, objectives and success criteria. Representing a range of stake-holders (e.g. students, staff, estates and senior management), the client team objective is to develop a succinct and compelling client brief. Their desire is generally to have as much time as possible to develop their vision and refine their requirements. This is best done through a layered decision-making process which seeks the last responsible moment for making decisions, i.e. the point at which holding off on a particular issue any longer will have time and/or cost implications. Note, this is rather different to seeking the last possible moment!
The design team is responsible for developing the learning landscape. Their objective is to interpret the client brief and accommodate user requirements within the parameters of building opportunities (and constraints), budget and timescale. This includes establishing robust design and space planning principles for the client team to test and refine its vision. By designing and building in long-term flexibility from the outset, the design team’s remit also includes future-proofing the client institution’s potential to continue to evolve and change over time.
The project team is responsible for developing the delivery programme and managing implementation of it. Their objective is to manage expectations and to deliver the agreed design solution within time and budget. This includes ensuring that both client brief and design solution are viable and that decision-making processes keep pace with delivery programme requirements.
Developing a project briefLet’s take the early stages of a hypothetical project – development of a project brief for refurbishment of an existing building to provide academic workspace.
The client team remit includes:
- Clarifying institutional values, organisational strengths, limitations and changes sought
- Identifying the learning principles and activities important to them
- Specifying what most learners should be able to do in the spaces provided
For example,
We believe that the real value of education is the discourse generated from face-to-face and virtual interaction. We see learning as a predominately social activity requiring feedback and interaction among participants. Learners should be enabled to get to know each other, engage in dialogue, work on group projects, interact in a variety of ways, present work publicly, teach others and give feedback. The design team remit includes: - Checking for understanding of information produced by client team
- Conducting a space review and user assessment of existing facilities – what works, or not, and why?
- Carrying out a building appraisal to identify particular strengths and possible constraints
- Creating a set of spatial requirements and testing these in the space available
For example,
We understand that the design solution should provide an environment that can be used in flexible and diverse ways. The space should be easily accessible, comfortable and relaxed in atmosphere, provide good natural light and be acoustically suitable for simultaneous small group discussions/presentations and larger group presentations. Settings should accommodate individual and group learning activities, and be configured so as to allow for quiet and more animated activities to take place simultaneously without undue disturbance. Furniture should be robust, mobile and easily reconfigurable. Technology requirements should include both hardwired and wireless connectivity to internet and presentation facilities, easy access to power and data for all users. The project team remit includes: - Ensuring client aspirations, proposed design solution and available resources are aligned
- Clarifying project budget required and available
- Establishing project programme
- Identifying risks
For example,
Measures of success for the project will cover criteria relating to efficient (£/sqm), effective (range of activities supported) and expressive (values articulated) objectives. The project organisation chart includes representation from all key teams, defines roles and responsibilities, sets out information flow and decision-making processes. The design solution proposed will cost no more that the estimated budget available. The proposed programme will reflect the demands of the academic calendar. A risk analysis will be carried out before project is approved for implementation.
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