Design & Coordination Basics

Architects cannot work alone

Often times, you will need to work with the project engineers across disciplines on a wide variety of design and coordination issues.

Below is an overview of the many design considerations that require both architects and engineers to work out together:

Architecture & Structure

Checking for consistency with design of structural elements and external works in relation to architectural design requirements

Aspects:

• Structural elements - Types of walls, parapet/kerbs, floor, columns, roofs, beams, railings

• Dimensions - Headroom, clear width & height, thickness, setting out, storey height, beam depth & column sizes

• Openings - for doors, windows

• External works - driveways, drainage, detention tank, entrance culvert, slopes, retaining walls, levels.

Architecture & Mechanical

Checking for consistency with design of fire safety provision, sanitary/sewerage, gas/water as well as ventilation provision in relation to architectural design requirements.

Aspects:

• Ventilation - Types of Mechanical Ventilation, Ducting layout, Air conditioning

• Sanitary/Sewerage Layout

• Water - Domestic tank and supply

• Fire protection - Sprinkler provision, smoke purging/extraction, hosereel, hydrant, fire pumps

• Gas - pipe layout, incoming location

Architecture & Electrical

Checking for consistency with design of equipment location, lighting provision and lighting protection among other building services in relation to architectural design requirements.

Aspects:

• Electricity - Substation Design, Lead in, Drawpit

• Lighting - Fitting type, illuminance, temperature, lux, positions based on false ceiling layout

• Fire safety - Exit Light/Sign, emergency lighting, voice comms, fire alarm panels

• Cable/switch types, location & layout - eg. office layout

• Fibre optics - Internet

• Telephone line

• Security systems - CCTV

• Lightning Protection System

The list above is non exhaustive.

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Architects need to collaborate and prepare the necessary information for effective design:

• Site plans with site boundary, buffers, driveway and building layout

• Fire plans - locations of hydrants, fire rated walls/compartments

• Combined services design layout (CSD) - Underground, high level at all storeys, roof plans

• Plans, sections, elevations of buildings

• Typical details

• Survey plans - with all existing site information (public drains, infrastructure)

• Any other relevant design and compliance requirements

With tight design collaboration and coordination upstream during a building project, there will lesser issues during construction 🚧.

So do not ignore your engineer and blindly assume the design can be built!