At the earliest stages we partner with our clients to assist in planning for future facilities. This work entails understanding and documenting the needs and limitations of any organization, identifying opportunities within existing facilities or at new sites and mapping out a process for clients to achieve their ultimate goals. Most of all, we listen.
Whether you are exploring a new facility or an existing one we recommend completing a feasibility study of any space prior to embarking on a significant project. These studies are reviews of the existing architecture and infrastructure to understand impacts to the site, structure and building systems. They also include a review of code or agency requirements. Together in reviewing these items we are able to highlight key constraints, identify cost and schedule impacts, and mitigate risk.
In the programming phase we work together to establish a list of requirements for any project and to define the necessary spaces by size, use and adjacency. Together we document the overall needs of the project and establish parameters for the requirements of a future design.
Working with institutional campuses we often partner to update or create Long Range Facilities Plans. For our Public K-12 clients these documents are required by the NJDOE for funding purposes. For Higher Education, Healthcare, Municipal or Heathcare clients they may be required for overall planning. These documents assist clients in keeping track of multiple capital projects projected out 5-10 years. They identify infrastructure impacts, manage costs and assist in creating master schedules.
Similar to Long Range Facilities Plans, Master Plans are designed to assist clients with long term planning for a building, site or campus. These documents typically project out both known and anticipated projects helping clients to understand a long term strategy and providing options on how they may continue to develop their facilities to meet both immediate and long term needs.
Once a program and feasibility study have both been completed we traditionally do test fits to conceptually show how the program requirements might fit together in a building or on a site. These early architectural studies help clients to understand the options for their space and make key decisions early in the design process.