Renovation Projects: Design Process Problems and Improvement Mechanisms

This paper presents a case study of a recent office renovation project. The paper investigates the problems that occurred during the design process, analyzes the causes of design iterations and rework, and proposes changes that can improve the design process. The analysis illustrates two design challenges that cause iterations and rework: (1) preexisting, hidden conditions identified late in the design process, and (2) limitations of downstream systems that were not accounted for in upstream decisions. The recommendations propose mechanisms to reduce design rework and duration, and increase the quality of the design solution. The recommendations are (1) to accelerate the discovery of existing conditions, (2) to identify the project constraints that design and construction have to meet, (3) to select the project team early, and (4) to accelerate the iterative design process with a team-based rapid development of schematic design (rapid prototyping).