USEFUL
INFORMATION
Understanding the RIBA Design Process,
BIM, and National Space Standards
BIM, and National Space Standards
USEFUL
The RIBA Design Process
All construction projects follow the RIBA Stages 0-7. Please see a summary below of what happens at each stage.
Further information can be found at www.ribaplanofwork.com
Stage 0 - Strategic Definition
Stage 0 is used to ensure that the client’s Business Case and the Strategic Brief have been properly considered before the Initial Project Brief is developed. The Strategic Brief may require a review of a number of sites or alternative options, such as extensions, refurbishment or new build. By asking the right questions, the consultants, in collaboration with the client, can properly define the scope for a project, and the preparation and briefing process can then begin.
Stage 1 - Preparation and Brief
Several significant and parallel activities need to be carried out during Stage 1 to ensure that the Concept Design process is as productive as possible. These split broadly into two categories:
* Developing the Initial Project Brief and any related Feasibility Studies
* Assembling the project team and defining each party’s roles and responsibilities and the Information Exchanges.
The preparation of the Initial Project Brief is the most important task undertaken during Stage 1. The time required to prepare it will depend on the complexity of the project.
When preparing the Initial Project Brief, it is necessary to consider:
* The project’s spatial requirements — the desired Project Outcomes, which may be derived following Feedback from earlier and similar projects
* The site or context, by undertaking site appraisals and collating Site Information, including building surveys
* The budget.
Stage 2. Concept Design
During Stage 2, the initial Concept Design is produced in line with the requirements of the Initial Project Brief. The project team also develops a number of Project Strategies. Their importance at this stage will depend on how they are to influence the Concept Design. For example, the Sustainability Strategy is likely to be a fundamental component of the Concept Design, whereas a security strategy may have minimal or no impact and can therefore be developed during a later stage. It is essential to revisit the brief during this stage and it should be updated and issued as the Final Project Brief as part of the Information Exchange at the end of Stage 2.
Stage 3. Developed Design
During this stage, the Concept Design is further developed and, the design work of the core designers is progressed until the spatial coordination exercises have been completed. This process may require a number of iterations of the design and different tools may be used, including design workshops. RIBA Stage 3 is usually when planning permission is applied for. Listed Building Consent may also be required.
By the end of Stage 3, the architectural, building services and structural engineering designs will all have been developed. The lead designer will have checked and coordinate the design and Project Strategies, with the Cost Information aligned to the Project Budget. A Change Control Procedure should be implemented to ensure that any changes to the Concept Design are properly considered and signed off, regardless of how they are instigated. While specialist subcontractors will undertake their design work at Stage 4, they may provide information and guidance at Stage 3 in order to facilitate a more robust developed design.
Stage 4. Technical Design
The architectural, building services and structural engineering designs are now further refined to provide technical definition of the project and the design work of specialist subcontractors is developed and concluded. The level of detail produced by each designer will depend on whether the construction on site will be built in accordance with the information produced by the design team or based on information developed by a specialist subcontractor. The Design Responsibility Matrix sets out how these key design interfaces will be managed. Using the design coordinated during the previous stage, the designers should now be able to develop their Technical Designs independently, with a degree of autonomy. The lead designer will provide input to certain aspects, including a review of each designer’s work. The output at this stage is a full set of Technical drawings and specifications for Building Control Approval, Tender and Construction.
Stage 5. Construction
During this stage, the building is constructed on site in accordance with the Construction Programme. Construction includes the erection of components that have been fabricated off site. The procurement strategy and/or the designer’s specific Schedule of Services will have set out the designer’s duties to respond to Design Queries from site generated in relation to the design, to carry out site inspections and to produce quality reports. The output of this stage is the ‘As Constructed’ information.
Stage 6. Handover and Close Out
The project team’s priorities during this stage will be facilitating the successful handover of the building in line with the Project Programme and, in the period immediately following, concluding all aspects of the Building Contract, including the inspection of defects as they are rectified or the production of certification required by the Building Contract. Other services may also be required during this period. These will be dictated by project specific Schedules of Services, which should be aligned with the procurement and Handover Strategies. Tasks in relation to the Handover Strategy can be wide-ranging and may include:
* Attending Feedback workshops — considering how any lessons learned might be applied on future projects
* Undertaking tasks in relation to commissioning or ensuring the successful operation and management of the building.
Further information can be found at www.ribaplanofwork.com
Stage 0 - Strategic Definition
Stage 0 is used to ensure that the client’s Business Case and the Strategic Brief have been properly considered before the Initial Project Brief is developed. The Strategic Brief may require a review of a number of sites or alternative options, such as extensions, refurbishment or new build. By asking the right questions, the consultants, in collaboration with the client, can properly define the scope for a project, and the preparation and briefing process can then begin.
Stage 1 - Preparation and Brief
Several significant and parallel activities need to be carried out during Stage 1 to ensure that the Concept Design process is as productive as possible. These split broadly into two categories:
* Developing the Initial Project Brief and any related Feasibility Studies
* Assembling the project team and defining each party’s roles and responsibilities and the Information Exchanges.
The preparation of the Initial Project Brief is the most important task undertaken during Stage 1. The time required to prepare it will depend on the complexity of the project.
When preparing the Initial Project Brief, it is necessary to consider:
* The project’s spatial requirements — the desired Project Outcomes, which may be derived following Feedback from earlier and similar projects
* The site or context, by undertaking site appraisals and collating Site Information, including building surveys
* The budget.
Stage 2. Concept Design
During Stage 2, the initial Concept Design is produced in line with the requirements of the Initial Project Brief. The project team also develops a number of Project Strategies. Their importance at this stage will depend on how they are to influence the Concept Design. For example, the Sustainability Strategy is likely to be a fundamental component of the Concept Design, whereas a security strategy may have minimal or no impact and can therefore be developed during a later stage. It is essential to revisit the brief during this stage and it should be updated and issued as the Final Project Brief as part of the Information Exchange at the end of Stage 2.
Stage 3. Developed Design
During this stage, the Concept Design is further developed and, the design work of the core designers is progressed until the spatial coordination exercises have been completed. This process may require a number of iterations of the design and different tools may be used, including design workshops. RIBA Stage 3 is usually when planning permission is applied for. Listed Building Consent may also be required.
By the end of Stage 3, the architectural, building services and structural engineering designs will all have been developed. The lead designer will have checked and coordinate the design and Project Strategies, with the Cost Information aligned to the Project Budget. A Change Control Procedure should be implemented to ensure that any changes to the Concept Design are properly considered and signed off, regardless of how they are instigated. While specialist subcontractors will undertake their design work at Stage 4, they may provide information and guidance at Stage 3 in order to facilitate a more robust developed design.
Stage 4. Technical Design
The architectural, building services and structural engineering designs are now further refined to provide technical definition of the project and the design work of specialist subcontractors is developed and concluded. The level of detail produced by each designer will depend on whether the construction on site will be built in accordance with the information produced by the design team or based on information developed by a specialist subcontractor. The Design Responsibility Matrix sets out how these key design interfaces will be managed. Using the design coordinated during the previous stage, the designers should now be able to develop their Technical Designs independently, with a degree of autonomy. The lead designer will provide input to certain aspects, including a review of each designer’s work. The output at this stage is a full set of Technical drawings and specifications for Building Control Approval, Tender and Construction.
Stage 5. Construction
During this stage, the building is constructed on site in accordance with the Construction Programme. Construction includes the erection of components that have been fabricated off site. The procurement strategy and/or the designer’s specific Schedule of Services will have set out the designer’s duties to respond to Design Queries from site generated in relation to the design, to carry out site inspections and to produce quality reports. The output of this stage is the ‘As Constructed’ information.
Stage 6. Handover and Close Out
The project team’s priorities during this stage will be facilitating the successful handover of the building in line with the Project Programme and, in the period immediately following, concluding all aspects of the Building Contract, including the inspection of defects as they are rectified or the production of certification required by the Building Contract. Other services may also be required during this period. These will be dictated by project specific Schedules of Services, which should be aligned with the procurement and Handover Strategies. Tasks in relation to the Handover Strategy can be wide-ranging and may include:
* Attending Feedback workshops — considering how any lessons learned might be applied on future projects
* Undertaking tasks in relation to commissioning or ensuring the successful operation and management of the building.
3D Building Information Modelling (BIM)
BIM is integral for each project we design and deliver. The power of BIM allows projects to be developed, visualised and analysed in 3D prior to construction. 3D modelling informs the design process and assists the design team with coordination, pro-actively overcoming technical design issues before the project reaches site. We use Autodesk Revit in collaboration with clients and consultants.
What is BIM?
With BIM, design teams develop an intelligent 3D model of their project that lets them gain a deeper understanding of how a building will perform while they work. Architects and engineers who use BIM get more done in less time thanks to connected, interoperable workflows and more efficient analysis, collaboration, and visualisation. In contrast, CAD-based 2D designs lack the intelligence that enables the efficiency and quality gains seen in the BIM process. When BIM touches the whole project, and everyone on the extended team, you save time, increase quality, and reduce risk even more than with limited approaches.
BIM adoption in the UK?
BIM adoption is being driven by the government BIM Level 2 mandate which was introduced for all publicly funded projects over £5 million procured in England and Wales since April 2016.
With BIM, design teams develop an intelligent 3D model of their project that lets them gain a deeper understanding of how a building will perform while they work. Architects and engineers who use BIM get more done in less time thanks to connected, interoperable workflows and more efficient analysis, collaboration, and visualisation. In contrast, CAD-based 2D designs lack the intelligence that enables the efficiency and quality gains seen in the BIM process. When BIM touches the whole project, and everyone on the extended team, you save time, increase quality, and reduce risk even more than with limited approaches.
BIM adoption in the UK?
BIM adoption is being driven by the government BIM Level 2 mandate which was introduced for all publicly funded projects over £5 million procured in England and Wales since April 2016.
National Space StandardsThis standard deals with internal space within new dwellings and is suitable for application across all tenures. It sets out requirements for the Gross Internal (floor) Area of new dwellings at a defined level of occupancy as well as floor areas and dimensions for key parts of the home, notably bedrooms, storage and floor to ceiling height.
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Technical Requirements:
- The dwelling provides at least the gross internal floor area and built-in storage area set out in Table 1 below
- A dwelling with two or more bed spaces has at least one double (or twin) bedroom
- In order to provide one bed space, a single bedroom has a floor area of at least 7.5m² and is at least 2.15m wide
- In order to provide two bed spaces, a double (or twin bedroom) has a floor area of at least 11.5m²
- One double (or twin bedroom) is at least 2.75m wide and every other double (or twin) bedroom is at least 2.55m wide
- Any area with a headroom of less than 1.5m is not counted within the Gross Internal Area unless used solely for storage (if the area under the stairs is to be used for storage, assume a general floor area of 1m² within the Gross Internal Area)
- Any other area used solely for storage and has a headroom of 900-1500mm (such as under eaves) is counted at 50% of its floor area, and any area lower than 900mm is not counted at all
- A built-in wardrobe counts towards the Gross Internal Area and bedroom floor area requirements, but should not reduce the effective width of the room below the minimum widths set out above. The built-in area in excess of 0.72m² in a double bedroom and 0.36m² in a single bedroom counts towards the built-in storage requirement
- The minimum floor to ceiling height is 2.3m for at least 75% of the Gross Internal Area
Additional Notes:
- Built-in storage areas are included within the overall GIAs and include an allowance of 0.5m² for fixed services or equipment such as a hot water cylinder, boiler or heat exchanger.
- GIAs for one storey dwellings include enough space for one bathroom and one additional WC (or shower room) in dwellings with 5 or more bed spaces. GIAs for two and three storey dwellings include enough space for one bathroom and one additional WC (or shower room). Additional sanitary facilities may be included without increasing the GIA provided that all aspects of the space standard have been met.
- Where a 1b1p has a shower room instead of a bathroom, the floor area may be reduced from 39m² to 37m² , as shown bracketed.
- Furnished layouts are not required to demonstrate compliance.
- The Gross Internal Areas in this standard will not be adequate for wheelchair housing (Category 3 homes in Part M of the Building Regulations) where additional internal area is required to accommodate increased circulation and functionality to meet the needs of wheelchair households.
