“Designing to a Budget” Rather Than “Budgeting a Design”

DRB Development Solutions | August 23, 2018

One of the most common mistakes made by Owners is failing to provide a budget for the design team to achieve. Too often we find that an Owner has provided the designers a concept or idea of what the project is to achieve, seeking some spectacular look or feel. Then Owners let the design team create that image and feeling. I am sure there often is a "notional discussion" of a budget but in my experience that is never really heard by the designers or resurrected by the Owners until after the first pricing exercise. Please do not get me wrong, this reactionary practice has kept our firm very busy for more than 35 years. We are repeatedly c...