From program to plan
Concept design takes your requirements and tests ways of arranging them. We look at layouts, circulation, daylight, adjacencies and flexibility. Sketches and plans show options, and you react to them. Changes at this stage are cheap, which is why it is worth taking the time.
Each layout has a different cost. A plan with fewer corners, shorter pipe runs and simpler ceilings costs less than a complicated one, and may work just as well. Our estimators price concepts as they develop, drawing on what our own crews pay and how long they take. You see the cost effect of each choice while you can still change your mind.
What we consider
- How staff, visitors and deliveries move through the space
- Power, data and lighting needs for each area
- HVAC zoning and comfort
- Acoustic separation and privacy
- Finishes, brand and durability
- Future change and flexibility
Working with your team
We run workshops with your decision makers and users, so the design reflects how people actually work. Our interior systems and millwork leads can show samples and explain what is possible with partitions, ceilings and built-ins. Our low voltage lead, Adam Mason, joins when AV, security or sound masking affect the layout.
Keeping options open
Concept design is a good time to ask what if. What if the meeting rooms were smaller? What if the reception were closer to the entrance? What if the second phase were built later? We sketch and price these options, so choices are made with evidence rather than guesses.
We also think about operating cost. A layout that allows natural light, simple zoning and easy servicing is cheaper to run for years after opening.
What to plan for
Decide who has final say on design. Gather brand guidelines, equipment lists and any furniture you plan to reuse. At the end of this step you should have an approved concept and budget range. The next step is engineering, where the concept is detailed for permit and construction.