futurespace believes that a successful and intelligent project outcome can only result from an accomplished project process. Outlined below and in the following pages is our proven project methodology that we have developed over many years of successful project design and delivery.

Brief Development is the collection and collation of preparatory information in order to determine the project’s parameters, objectives and critical success factors.  This can often involve workshops held with key decision makers in the business to determine overall project objectives.  These objectives may fall into 2 categories – the overarching high level future goals of the business and the day to day functional requirements of the business.  The approved and signed off brief is the starting point of a project and the benchmark against which all future project decisions are made.

Test Planning is often purely a numbers exercise.  It is about maximising the headcount and built environment that can fit into any given floor plate, without the overlay of a creative brief.  A test planning exercising can help a business understand what risks and opportunities of a property decision, prior to committing to a lease.

Sketch Planning involves a number of processes, beginning with the development of generic planning philosophies.  Along with the signed off brief, the development of a flexible ‘kit of parts’ and inclusion of relevant regulatory considerations, these plans form the basis for the next steps in producing the constructed environment.

Concept Design usually happens after the sketch plan is approved by the client.  It is the development of a general overarching design principle that forms the design direction of the project.  The concept can be as creative or restrained as the client desires, and is always a direct response to a client’s brief and business personality. 

Design Development is an often overlooked but still critical phase of any project.  This phase involves the evolution of the brief, sketch planning and concept design to fully integrate considerations such as site conditions, consultants requirements, budget, program, statutory and other important project parameters.

Documentation is the preparation and co-ordination of a series of plans, schedules, and other architectural documents in order for the project to be tendered and constructed and to obtain relevant authority approvals.  This phase involves the co-ordination of the designer’s documentation with that of other consultants such as engineering, structural, kitchen, graphic designer and other specialists as required.

Construction of the project is where the builder is on site to finally realise the design.  Typically we’d work with a Project/Construction Manager and Builder, and our role would include periodic site inspections to assess the construction against the design intent, attendance at weekly site meetings and final defects inspections so that the project can be ready for handover and occupation by the client.

The successful project design is a holistic solution that is a balance of creative and practical achievements.  It should consider and address the relevant environmental, organisational, economic and human milieu of an organisation as well as be the result of an intelligent, efficient project process.