PLANNING CONSTRUCTION

Initiating Construction

private sector – residential, industrial, commercial public sector – public works

Community Planning

city planners – size and character of population – economy of community – transportation facilities

– nature and quantity of natural resources – educational facilities – history and culture of the area

citizen representatives and elected officials – lives and property of people living in area – local economy

– level of employment – property values – taxes – health, safety, and general welfare of people

Controlling Construction

zoning laws – max. property size – max. height of building – number of families that can occupy a house

– number of parking spaces a commercial building must provide – distance the structure must be from the property’s boundaries

building codes – local and state laws that specify methods and materials used – inspections

Site Selection and Acquisition

Selecting a Site location size shape

topography – site’s surface features utilities – electricity, gas, phone

zoning cost

Acquiring the Site direct purchase – buy it from the owner

power of eminent domain – gov’t has the right to buy private property for public use

– condemnation legal process for taking over land that an owner has refused to sell

The Design Process

Identifying Specific Needs custom built – house/building planned and built especially for client

client meets with architect – number of people – types of work – expansion

Developing Preliminary Ideas architect jots down ideas and plans

Refining Ideas and Analyzing the Plan architect considerations – renderings or models – meet with client again

engineers – analyze plans for function and strength of structure

Preparing Final Plans and Specifications working drawings – drawn to scale

– site plan – floor plan – elevations – detail drawings – section drawings

specifications – written details about materials to be used, standards and gov’t regulations to be followed