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As architects, we rely on multiple design phases in our projects to ensure a smooth schedule and workflow for everyone on the project team. The Schematic Design phase is the first phase of the architectural design project schedule. Good programming and planning lay the groundwork for a successful design process, and ultimately a successful construction project.
Schematic design is one of our favorite phases because it could be a lot of fun, especially if your design team practices good planning and project management moving forward. While the end goal of the architectural design process is a built and occupied structure, these first efforts during the schematic design phase are imperative for success and efficiency in the rest of the project scope.
What is Schematic Design?
Schematic Design is the first phase of the architectural design process. At this stage, your design team begins to describe the architectural and tectonic elements of the project design.
The team takes the programming and concept design, and translates it into architectural and spatial designs. Most of us explore many ideas in this phase in order to achieve the best possible design solutions.
Two important components for a successful schematic design phase are site analysis and programming. Both the building program and location have significant implications in the design process, so it’s important to have a solid understanding of these foundational components at this stage.
(Source: Community Development Partners)
Who's Involved in Schematic Design?
This phase begins shortly after the project is started. While all team members and stakeholders can be involved in the schematic design process, it is more likely that the project Owner and Architect will be the most involved in this phase.
During this phase, you and the client work closely, to make sure all the necessary building program needs are covered in the project design. In fact, your client may be more involved in the day-to-day workings of the Schematic Design stage than any other design stage hereafter.
Your architecture team will use tools like schematic diagrams and sketching to quickly convey spatial ideas to the client. These tools allow iterations and prevent any team member from settling on an idea prematurely.
What Comes After Schematic Design?
By the end of schematic design, your architecture team should have a fundamental understanding of the scale and the systems of the project. There should be clarity about the various consultants and engineers that will be needed in order to proceed to the design development phase.
After the SD phase, the project will move into design development, and then into the construction document phase. The schedule and the budget of a project will determine the scope of each phase of the design.
During the next design phase, you and your team will flesh out the schematic design ideas even more, in order to more fully understand how the various systems and elements of the building design are integrated into the ultimate construction project.
As architects, it is common for multiple ideas and design concepts to be explored and developed during the schematic design phase. Ultimately, only one is chosen, but it’s important not to settle on any particular option too quickly in this stage, in order to make room for creative solutions and approaches.
But, if you do decide to explore multiple design options in schematic design, it’s necessary to choose one before moving forward into the design development phase. So everyone is on the same page when your team develops the design further.
Recap: All the Design Phases You Should Know.
The 5 phases of an architectural design project are:
- Schematic Design Phase
- Design Development Phase
- Construction Document Phase
- Bidding Phase
- Construction Administration Phase
Our Monograph’s Guide to Architectural Design Phases shows you how these phases relate to one another, and how Monograph's Project Planner can help your team effectively and efficiently move through a project's design process.
What is the Difference Between Concept Design and Schematic Design?
The difference between concept design and schematic design lies in the level of resolution. Concept design can be abstract, while schematic design begins to articulate spatial and architectural elements in a way that isn’t necessary for concept design.
Your goal in schematic design should be to settle on an overall concept for the project and produce a framework through which to move forward into design development, and eventually construction.
Concept design can be loose and diagrammatic. There is no need to address issues of scale or constructability during this process. But standard conventions of architectural drawing (plan, section, elevation) should be used in the schematic design phase to articulate space and scale.
Concept Design Example
(Source: Tatiana Bilbao Estudio)
Every design team explores different methods of exploration. Collages in plan and section allow us to convey non-technical information in a fun and easy-to-understand way.
Schematic Design Example
(Source: Moss Architects)
Many different parts of the design are tested in this phase. Options can be as varied as external glazing to internal programmatic allocations. This example shows the architects studying how these two affect each other in axonometric and plan views.
What is Included in Schematic Design Documents?
Schematic design documents include:
- Project summary and narrative
- Site and code analysis
- Existing and proposed site plans
- Floor plans for every level
- Multiple building sections
- Building elevations
- Structural schematic drawings or narrative
- Mechanical schematic drawings or narrative
- Plumbing schematic drawings or narrative
- Electrical schematic drawings or narrative
3 Examples of Schematic Design Drawings
We can achieve schematic design in all medium and forms. Here are some examples on how different architects approach this early phase of design differently.
Example 1 - Danish Brotherhood Hall
(Source: Waechter Architecture)
Collage and annotations are used here overlaying standard architectural plans to convey materials and spaces in this project's design.
Example 2 - Palace of the Soviets
This image illustrates the scope of design options that your team should value at this schematic stage of design. Function and flows can be discussed at the level of simple plan sketches.
Example 3 - Capilla de la Santa Cruz
(Source: ArchDaily)
After concept design, your schematic designs start to take shape and be visualized as you can see in this elevation. This will help you decide on the design direction for the next phase.
How to Track Your Time and Fee in Schematic Design Phase
As the project manager or architect on a project, sometimes we run into the problem that we use up the fees too fast in schematic design and then the team has to suffer with low fees through the later design phases. That’s why it’s important to have transparency on where you’re at any phase of the project especially in schematic design.
With Monograph Money Gantt, you can see directly how much time and money you’ve tracked at any phase of your project in real time. So your team will never run out of fees again at this early stage of a project.
Ready to improve your project management? Get started with Monograph today.
