This blog post is part of the RIBA plan of work series. Here we’ll be covering Stage 3 of the RIBA plan of work which covers spatially coordinated design.
The purpose of Stage 3 is to spatially coordinate the design. The information at the end of this stage needs to be coordinated sufficiently so that minor changes can’t happen at Stage 4 and you can submit a planning application with detailed information for the design.
Stage 2 of the Architectural Concept should be finalized and approved, along with the Project Brief before proceeding into Stage 3. The project shouldn’t proceed to Stage 3 if any spatial requirements or adjacencies remain inconclusive. During Stage 3, the Change Control Procedures should be used to manage any functional changes to the Project Brief and Architectural Concept. Minor aspects of the design may need to be adjusted in response to tasks underway. For example, a core might need to be rearranged in order for the toilet and riser layouts to work out.
To design a Stage 3 Spatially Coordinated, each design team member would work independently at Stage 4, or you could coordinate with specialist subcontractors on design. All of the project information should be coordinated too.
The majority of Project Strategies (produced by specialist consultants) should be coordinated and concluded by the end of Stage 3. Allowing work on other Strategy items to enter Stage 4 is only disruptive to the design process if the designer has not been included in early discussions on a Strategy matter.
We expect the lead designer to review the services schedules for specialists and comment on what tasks have been proposed when they will be undertaken, and if any tasks may interfere with the Stage 4 design process.
The design team may want to consider changing the design process, including early Stage 4 information delivery, in order to make the procurement process more effective. For example, being able to provide a scope of work or detailed design for a complex area of the project, like the cladding, will have an immediate benefit. The contractor will have an easier time bidding on items because they don’t have to assume what they will be responsible for. All aspects of the project are listed out in depth so that contractors know exactly what needs to be done.
