DesignDevelopment

The second step in the design process is design development. In the design development phase concise designs, floor plans, elevations, and building sections are created. It is during this phase that detailed site calculations, drainage and infrastructure, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (SMEP) components are introduced. A detailed black and white or color rendering of the building can be created as well.

Design development is a crucial step in the design process. This phase allows SMEP disciplines to coordinate various building systems, with the architect, to ensure a functional collaboration of building design, building components and engineering disciplines.

What Does Design Development Involve?

The design development phase consists of a series of interdisciplinary coordination meetings between the architect, engineers, and consultants. Sometimes this phase includes meetings with building department officials, state regulatory agencies, building material suppliers and environmentalist to ensure the success of the project at the construction documents phase. The number of meetings required during this phase is a reflection of the project’s complexity and intricacy.

The Parris Company 3D Rendering

Construction Materials AND BUILDING SYSTEMS

During the design development phase construction materials become a topic of conversation. Interior finishes, wall colors, flooring materials, exterior glazing, furnishings, building electronics, smart technology, and other details are discussed during this phase. In this phase the building starts to seem more real—rather than just being a sketch, the building begins to evolve into something realistic with moving parts.