Before you start, it’s good to know where you’re going, and that it’s realistic that you can get there.
This isn’t true of all adventures, but when you’re building your home, it’s pretty important. The process is enough of an adventure. You want to take out as many of the unknowns as possible before you dive in.
How do I do this, you ask?
In architecture, we like to start with a feasibility study. This is usually part of the pre-design process, and it’s where we find out and define what you want your project to be, how long it’s going to take, what it’s going to cost, and what are the biggest obstacles affecting these goals.
This early research and design project gives you a confident foundation to move into the design phase of the project. It becomes the basis for many of the decisions that will be made throughout the project.
What is a Feasibility Study in Architecture?
A feasibility study in architecture is a comprehensive analysis to assess the viability of a proposed construction project:
Can your project be built on time and within your budget?
Will the building you want to build fit on your site? (Maybe you don’t have a site yet. A feasibility study can help you shop for a property that works for your vision)
Are there any regulations or codes that will make it hard to build the building you want?
Are there any local or site conditions that will affect the project, such as climate and how it affects design and materials? Are there issues with lead times? Is there access to a qualified labor force? Are there soil or groundwater conditions that will need costly foundations and retaining walls?
It is advisable to answer all these questions before getting underway.
The feasibility study involves research, fact finding and working with various consultants that have expertise to get you what you need to know.
At the end of the process, you’ll have answered the big picture questions, so that you can make the decision: Are you ready to get started?
Why Are Feasibility Studies Important?
We always recommend making the investment in this up-front work before signing the contracts to move forward with the official design contract. It’s good for everybody. You are more clear about what you want and what’s possible. Your architect and team can work more efficiently when your objectives and restrictions are clear.
It’s better to invest a bit more time and effort at the beginning rather than have to deal with a surprise later on that can slow the project down, require major changes to the design, or create unexpected costs.
Ultimately, the importance of a feasibility study is that it gives you an higher likelihood of success by thoroughly vetting all aspects of your ideal design and the range of site conditions, restrictions and parameters.
Who is responsible for undertaking the study?
Similar to the concept design phase, a feasibility study isn’t part of the architects standard services, which start at the schematic design phase and continue through the end of construction. Depending on the nature of your project, and what your main concerns are, this can be an owner-led exercise. More often than not, though, your architect will be involved in coordinating the process. They have the expertise to know what information you need, and can help you find the right people to get it for you.
The work needs a collaborative team of professionals, working with planners, engineers, and sometimes financial consultants. The lead architect or design firm often coordinates the study, bringing together the necessary expertise to evaluate various aspects of the project. This team works closely with you to understand your goals and constraints. In some cases, the involvement of specialized consultants, such as environmental engineers or zoning experts, may be required to address specific challenges.
How Does a Feasibility Study Help?
Building a building is complicated. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. It’s a huge investment in time, money, resources, emotions and energy. It needs to pass through layers of bureaucracy. It needs to take into account a range of site and contextual conditions. It needs to be built to a quality and style that suits your budget and your goals.
Your feasibility study takes the time at the start of the project to find potential problems and plan for them accordingly. Understanding the scope of work, what you can and can’t do, will help you make decisions that keep things on track.
Additionally, it can suggest alternative solutions or adjustments to the design that sometimes make the project better, or spark a new idea. Creative solutions to a tricky condition can become a key element that the design revolves around.
How early in the process should I perform a feasibility study?
It’s pretty much the first thing you should do. A feasibility study should be conducted at the earliest stages of the architectural process. If the project isn’t feasible, you can cut your losses and move on, without spending any more time on it. Or you can adjust the project to make it work and adjust to new parameters.
If everything checks out and you decide to go for it, you and your architect will have this study to reference and use as the basis of design.
Your concept design can tie into your feasibility process, thinking of how the building will sit on the site, how big it’s going to need to be to fit your program, and so on. Early massing studies can reveal potential issues with site coverage, setback lines and height restrictions, parking and other zoning limitations. It can also help with early budgeting, working with the contractor to find what level of finish works with your budget.
In some jurisdictions you can start working with your local building and planning authorities, getting their feedback on the big picture concepts.
Preparing for an Architectural Feasibility Study
Before you get started in your feasibility study process, you’ll want to get some of the basics covered. If you need help and guidance, your architect can answer your questions and get you pointed in the right direction. But because of lead times and availability, it’s worth getting the basics taken care of so that everything can move forward efficiently:
- Define Project Goals: The more clear you are about what you want, the more you are setting the project up for success. Your communication and decision making can all spin off from this initial investigation, giving you clarity of vision and purpose. As much as possible, it’s good to outline your objectives, including the size, scope, style, budget constraints, and timeline. Your goals may also include ideas for how you see your home impacting your health and wellness, structuring your family routines, and environmental and building performance. If you aren’t 100% clear about any of these things, it’s also ok to use the feasibility study and predesign exercises as a discovery process. Your architect can help you talk through ideas, set realistic expectations and assemble a team that fits your needs.
- Gather Site Information: Collecting the site information is contractually the responsibility of you, the client. Working with surveyors and geotech engineers to put together detailed information about the site, such as topography, soil conditions, access routes, and existing structures is important to understanding project feasibility. Any challenges discovered through site analysis can be understood and prepared for. Again, while this doesn’t fall under your architect’s standard scope of contractual responsibilities, they can guide and advise you as you navigate this part.
- Start Building Your Team: The feasibility process is a great opportunity to start building your team. You can certainly use your architect, or a potential architect to guide you in this process. This will be a good test of how you work together, before committing to the contract for the full design project. The same goes for contractors. You may not decide on your contractor in this phase, but you can use this process to get to know each other. You may also be talking to a few potential contractors to help you with preliminary pricing. Any other engineers or consultants used for feasibility will be determined by site and local conditions. There is a good chance they will continue to be part of your team for the duration.
- Conduct a Preliminary Budget Analysis: Understand your budget and financing strategy. Work with your bankers and brokers. This may get updated as you go through the feasibility process. It’s important to be clear on what you can and can’t do as you build out your project scope and design goals.
The effort and thought you put in to your project before you kick things off will pay off in the long term.
