The Decision Brief at the start of a new project
A new project with us begins with the Decision Brief, three weeks in which we work out with the management team what the project will require of the client. We draft the first requirements for the brief to the architects before the client commissions a feasibility study, a workplace strategy or a design.
Written by
Christian Huser
neuecon partners
These choices come in the first weeks, and much of the investment and every later stage depend on them.
Most building projects begin with a change in the organisation. A lease runs out, the strategy changes, a new market opens, more people need room or less space is needed. We start at that point, while the type of project is still open.
Before the project begins
We clarify first whether the client needs a new building, a move, an expansion or a consolidation. The four types ask different things of a client. A move turns on the new location and the options it leaves open. An expansion turns on whether to extend, add a building or move. A consolidation turns on how much space to release and which parts. A new building turns on the location and the site, and on the ways of working of the first teams, which later apply to everyone. These choices come in the first weeks, and much of the investment and every later stage depend on them. Once the building is complete, they can hardly be changed.
Three weeks with the management team
The three weeks include a workshop with the management team on a fixed agenda. Our co-founder Markus Hölzl, an architect who advises companies and municipalities on their building projects, leads our workshops. On the agenda are the type of project and what it will require of the client. We also plan the project with the management team.
We draw on three sources: the management team, the records of the organisation and the published research. From the first two we work out where the client stands today. From the research we take what applies to the building type and to the people who will use it. Where the management team has not raised a topic, we add it from our own assessment of the project.
One week of published research
One of the three weeks goes to a search of the published research on the building type and on the occupants. An office, a school, a hospital and a home have different purposes, and the purpose determines which of health, productivity and recovery counts most for the people in the building. Our co-founder Daiana Zamler, who specialises in environmental psychology, leads our scientific work. We select the findings that apply to the project, and we assess the quality of the ones we choose.
After the Decision Brief
A building project passes through eight stages, and we lead the first two. If the project proceeds, we take the requirements for the architects into the Strategic Project Blueprint, which we write in stage 01. We turn each open point into a requirement for the architects. Anyone planning a new building, a move, an expansion or a consolidation can reach us at neuecon.com/contact.