Design and Construction: An Excercise in Patience
Occasionally, a new client will come to us looking for a building to be designed and constructed in a matter of months. This might be reasonable on a small interior renovation, but for many projects, it’s practically impossible. The design and construction process is anything but instantaneous. The question is: how long will YOUR specific project take?
SOA’s E-Booklet on Establishing a Project Timeline is a good place to start estimating how much time (and patience!) you’ll need. The booklet starts out with a description of complicating factors; if your project includes one of these conditions, it’s very likely to affect your timeline.
The second part of the booklet is a timeline calculator, basically a chart listing typical ranges for project phases. You can use this as a basis for guesstimating your overall project length. It’s not meant to be precise, just a way for you to get a sense of all the steps that might apply to your project.
But if your project is short on time, there are methods for speeding the process along, such as pre-selecting a contractor or using a “Fast Track” delivery method. The last portion of the e-booklet reviews the pros and cons for various methods of condensing a project timeline.
Being aware of your potential project timeline in advance can help you from losing your patience before your project even begins!
Featured Resource
Developing a Realistic Project Budget
"Getting your Ducks in a Row" E-booklet 4
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