TRADITIONAL DESIGN PROCEDURES

                    TRADITIONAL DESIGN PROCEDURES
Systems design of buildings requires a different approach to design and construction
than that used in traditional design. Because traditional design and construction
procedures are still widely used, however, it is desirable to incorporate as
much of those procedures in systems design as is feasible without destroying its
effectiveness. This will make the transition from traditional design to systems design
easier. Also, those trained in systems design of buildings will then be capable
of practicing in traditional ways, if necessary.
In the basic traditional design procedure, design usually starts when a client
recognizes the need for and economic feasibility of a building and engages an
architect, a professional with a broad background in building design. The architect,
in turn, engages consulting engineers and other consultants.
For most buildings, structural, mechanical, and electrical consulting engineers
are required. A structural engineer is a specialist trained in the application of scientific
principles to the design of load-bearing walls, floors, roofs, foundations, and
skeleton framing needed for the support of buildings and building components. A
mechanical engineer is a specialist trained in the application of scientific principles
to the design of plumbing, elevators, escalators, horizontal walkways, dumbwaiters,
conveyors, installed machinery, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. An
electrical engineer is a specialist trained in the application of scientific principles
to the design of electric circuits, electric controls and safety devices, electric motors
and generators, electric lighting, and other electric equipment.
For buildings on a large site, the architect may engage a landscape architect as
a consultant. For a concert hall, an acoustics consultant may be engaged; for a
hospital, a hospital specialist; for a school, a school specialist.
The architect does the overall planning of the building and incorporates the
output of the consultants into the contract documents. The architect determines what
internal and external spaces the client needs, the sizes of these spaces, their relative locations, and their interconnections. The results of this planning are shown in floor
plans, which also diagram the internal flow, or circulation, of people and supplies.
Major responsibilities of the architect are enhancement of the appearance inside
and outside of the building and keeping adverse environmental impact of the structure
to a minimum. The exterior of the building is shown in drawings, called elevations.
The location and orientation of the building is shown in a site plan. The
architect also prepares the specifications for the building. These describe in detail
the materials and equipment to be installed in the structure. In addition, the architect,
usually with the aid of an attorney engaged by the client, prepares the construction
contract.
The basic traditional design procedure is executed in several stages. In the first
stage, the architect develops a program, or list of the client’s requirements. In the
next stage, the schematic or conceptual phase, the architect translates requirements
into spaces, relates the spaces and makes sketches, called schematics, to illustrate
the concepts. When sufficient information is obtained on the size and general construction
of the building, a rough estimate is made of construction cost. If this cost
does not exceed the cost budgeted by the client for construction, the next stage,
design development, proceeds. In this stage, the architect and consultants work out
more details and show the results in preliminary construction drawings and outline
specifications. A preliminary cost estimate utilizing the greater amount of information
on the building now available is then prepared. If this cost does not exceed
the client’s budget, the final stage, the contract documents phase, starts. It culminates
in production of working, or construction, drawings and specifications,
which are incorporated in the contract between the client and a builder and therefore
become legal documents. Before the documents are completed, however, a final
cost estimate is prepared. If the cost exceeds the client’s budget, the design is
revised to achieve the necessary cost reduction.
In the traditional design procedure, after the estimated cost is brought within the
budget and the client has approved the contract documents, the architect helps the
owner in obtaining bids from contractors or in negotiating a construction price with
a qualified contractor. For private work, construction not performed for a governmental
agency, the owner generally awards the construction contract to a contractor,
called a general contractor. Assigned the responsibility for construction of the
building, this contractor may perform some, all, or none of the work. Usually, much
of the work is let out to specialists, called subcontractors. For public work, there
may be a legal requirement that bids be taken and the contract awarded to the
lowest responsible bidder. Sometimes also, separate contracts have to be awarded
for the major specialists, such as mechanical and electrical trades, and to a general
contractor, who is assigned responsibility for coordinating the work of the trades
and performance of the work.
Building design should provide for both normal and emergency conditions. The
latter includes fire, explosion, power cutoffs, hurricanes, and earthquakes. The design should include access and facilities for disabled persons.