Preliminary Design vs Detail Design

Once the concept of the project has been approved, the owner desiring the construction retains an engineer, an “owner’s” estimate indicating the total job cost minus markup. This estimate should achieve approximately
architect, or a combination of the two, called an architect/engineer (A/E) or design professionals. ±3% accuracy, since the total design is now available.

The end product of the design phase of project development is a set of plans and specifications that define the project
The owner’s estimate is used (1) to ensure the design produced is within the owner’s financial resources to
to be constructed. The drawings are a graphical or schematic indication of the work to be accomplished. The
construct (i.e., the architect/engineer has not designed a gold-plated project), and (2) to establish a reference
specifications are a verbal or word description of what is to be constructed and to what levels of quality. When
point in evaluating the bids submitted by the competing contractors.
completed, they are included as legally binding elements of the contract.

The production of the plans and specifications usually proceeds in two steps. In some cases, when all contractor bids greatly exceed the owner’s estimate, all bids are rejected and the
project is withdrawn for redesign or reconsideration. Once detailed design is completed, the owner again
• The first step is called preliminary design and offers the owner a pause in which to review construction before approves the design prior to advertising the project to prospective bidders.
detail design commences.

A common time for this review to take place is at 40% completion of the total design. The preliminary design
extends the concept documentation. In most projects, a design team leader concept is utilized. The design
team leader coordinates the efforts of architects and engineers from differing disciplines.

The disciplines normally identified are architectural, civil and structural, mechanical, and electrical. The
architect or architectural engineer, for instance, is responsible for the development of floor plans and general
layout drawings as well as considerations such as building cladding, exterior effects, and interior finish.

The mechanical engineer is concerned with the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as
service water systems. At preliminary design, decisions regarding size and location of air-conditioning and
heating units as well as primary water distribution components (e.g., pumps) are made.

Similar decisions regarding the electrical system are made at this point by the electrical engineers.

The structural and civil engineers develop the preliminary design of the structural frame and the subsurface
foundation support. All of these designs are interlinked.

The architectural layout impacts the weight support characteristics of the floor structure and, hence, the
selection of structural system. The structural superstructure influences the way in which the foundation of
the structure can be handled. The floor plan also determines the positioning of pipes and ducts and the space
available for service mains.

• Once the preliminary design has been approved by the owner, final or detail design is accomplished. This is
the second step in the production of the plans and specifications.

For the architectural engineer this focuses on the interior finishes, which include walls, floors, ceilings, and
glazing. Details required to install special finish items are designed. Precise locations and layout of electrical
and mechanical systems as well as the detail design of structural members and connections are accomplished
by the appropriate engineers.

As noted, the detail design phase culminates in the plans and specifications that are given to the constructor
for bidding purposes. In addition to these detailed design documents, the architect/engineer produces a final