Assembling A Collaborative Team - Other - Page 80
Assembling a Collaborative Project Team
•formal Information Exchanges, which can have a number of functions but are
principally a pause in the design process allowing a period for reflection and
sign-off by the client before the next stage commences.
In this guidance, the first two categories are not examined in detail although they
are touched on briefly in the WHEN (programme) and HOW (protocol) sections.
Formal Information Exchanges are, however, worth considering. The means of
defining Information Exchanges (the information exchanged at the end of each
stage and its level of detail) is one of the crucial topics to emerge from the
development of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013. It is fair to say that the information
currently produced at the end of a RIBA stage varies from project to project and
from practice to practice. This variation can occur for good reasons: for example,
one residential client may want only a set of drawings for obtaining planning
and building control approvals. Another may need detailed interior designs
and full-size joinery details. Some may require fly-through videos, models and
sophisticated renderings in order to sign off the Concept Design at Stage 2.
Certain Information Exchanges are likely to be dictated: the requirements of a
specific planning authority or the information required to confirm compliance
with Building Regulations, for example.
In summary, the information that needs to be exchanged during a stage and the
information that needs to be delivered at the end of a stage varies and is dictated
by a number of factors. The information and level of detail to be produced by
each designer needs to be considered at Stage 1 as it can impact on fee proposals.
From the lead designer’s perspective, the information to be delivered by each
designer during each stage is important and it is essential that those undertaking
this role produce a Design Programme that clarifies what is expected, WHEN,
and HOW cost exercises will be undertaken.
Information Exchanges are incorporated into the Design Responsibility Matrix.
The Schedule of Services, Design Programme and the Design Responsibility
Matrix provide a comprehensive kit of parts for those undertaking the lead
designer role. The Information Exchanges columns in the Design Responsibility
Matrix are straightforward and allow the drawings, schedules, strategies and
other information that must be exchanged at the end of each stage to be identified.
Specifically, they do not define a detailed drawing list, but rather provide a broad
understanding of what is to be produced at each stage and to what ‘scale’ or
level of detail (see below). The multidisciplinary nature of the Design Responsibility
Matrix is also useful for the lead designer. From their perspective, it is essential
that the other designers are appointed in a manner that allows them to undertake
their coordination duties. In summary, the Matrix:
• defines the information that will be exchanged at end of each stage
• clarifies which party will produce the information, and
• defines the scale or level of detail to be produced.
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