Project Definition.
Work out what the project really is before you start designing it.
Projects often begin with an idea, a problem or a building that needs to change. What they rarely begin with is a fully understood scope.
Project Definition is the work we do upfront to understand the project properly: what you’re trying to achieve, what the building or site will allow, what risks and constraints matter, what advice is needed, and what decisions should come first.
The aim is simple: get clear before committing serious time and money to design.
When is Project Definition useful?
It’s particularly useful when:
the brief is still evolving
you’re working with an existing building
seismic strengthening or remediation is involved
you’re considering a change of use
planning or consent requirements aren’t clear
the site is difficult or constrained
there are several possible ways forward
you don’t yet know which consultants you need
the scope and budget don’t quite line up
you need enough information to decide whether to proceed at all
You don’t need to arrive with all the answers.
Working out which questions matter is part of the job.
What do we investigate?
That depends on the project. We might look at:
The brief
What you need the project to achieve, what matters most and where there is still flexibility.
The site and existing building
What is already there, what information we can rely on and what needs further investigation.
Planning + compliance
Planning controls, building consent implications, fire, accessibility, seismic issues and other regulatory requirements likely to affect the project.
Scope + options
What work may actually be required and whether there are different ways of approaching it.
The consultant team
Which specialists need to be involved, when they are needed and what we need them to answer.
Cost + programme
Early assumptions about likely scope, cost and timing, and where better information is needed before those assumptions can become firmer.
Early design thinking
Where useful, we may test layouts, spatial options or other design possibilities to understand what is achievable.
What do you get?
At the end of Project Definition, you should have a much clearer picture of:
what the project is
what the important constraints are
where the risks and unknowns sit
what information is still needed
who needs to be involved
what the likely pathway looks like
what should happen next
The output will depend on the project. It could include diagrams, options, notes, risk and constraint summaries, consultant recommendations, early scope and cost assumptions, and a clear set of next steps.
Enough information to make the next decision well.
Then what?
Sometimes Project Definition leads directly into design.
Or it shows that more investigation is needed first.
Sometimes the scope changes.
Sometimes the best decision is to pause, stage the work differently, or not proceed at all.
And if the project does move forward, you can continue with Unit 7 or use the information to decide how you want to proceed.
Project Definition gives you options before too much has been committed.