A great project can be undermined before the first line is drawn.
A site may look ideal. A building may appear to have plenty of room. A renovation may seem straightforward. However, once zoning requirements, existing conditions, budget limitations and operational needs are examined, unexpected challenges can quickly surface.
That is where an early feasibility study can make a significant difference.
Before a major investment is made, a feasibility study can be used to determine what is realistically possible, what constraints may need to be addressed and where opportunities may exist. Most importantly, informed decisions can be made before significant time and money are committed to design and construction.
What Is a Feasibility Study?
A feasibility study is an early planning exercise that is used to evaluate whether a proposed project can realistically be accomplished.
Depending on the project, several factors may be studied, including the site, existing building, zoning requirements, space needs, construction costs and operational goals. Multiple approaches can also be explored so that a preferred direction can be identified before detailed design begins. Rather than producing a final design, the process is intended to answer important questions early.
Can the desired program fit within the available space?
Can the site support the proposed development?
Will the project align with zoning requirements?
Can the goals be achieved within the available budget?
By addressing these questions early, greater clarity can be established before a project moves forward.
As one of Stone Group Architects’ principal architects, Jordan Metzger, explains, feasibility studies can also provide valuable guidance beyond a single project. “Feasibility studies are one of the most important documents a board or group can use to plan out their 1-3-10 goals.”
When used as part of long-range planning, a feasibility study can help organizations understand what may be possible today while also establishing a framework for future needs and investments.
Problems Are Less Expensive to Solve Early
One of the greatest benefits of a feasibility study is that potential problems can be identified while changes are still relatively simple.For example, a proposed addition may appear to provide enough space for an organization’s future needs. However, after the site is evaluated, it may be discovered that setbacks, parking requirements or utility infrastructure could limit the available building area.
If that issue is discovered during early planning, other options can be explored. If it is discovered after architectural drawings have been developed, significant time and money may already have been invested in an approach that cannot be pursued. The same principle applies to existing buildings. Important information about the site or building can be overlooked when a project is moved too quickly into design. That early investigation can prevent months of design work from being built around an assumption that later proves to be incorrect.
“If design schedules are shortened at the direction of the owner, a lot of valuable information is skipped over that can help save time and money later in design,” Jordan Metzger states. “Slowing down at the building to speed up later is always good to keep in mind.”
What Can Be Evaluated?
A feasibility study can be tailored to the needs of the organization and the complexity of the project. While every study will be different, several areas are commonly evaluated:
- Site and existing conditions: Available property, existing structures, utilities, access and physical limitations can be reviewed.
- Space and programming: Current and future space needs can be analyzed to determine whether the proposed program can be accommodated.
- Zoning and regulations: Applicable zoning requirements, setbacks, parking and other regulatory considerations can be identified.
- Budget and cost considerations: Preliminary construction costs can be developed so expectations can be compared with available funding.
- Options and alternatives: Multiple development strategies can be studied so the strengths and limitations of each approach can be understood.
- Phasing and implementation: When a project cannot reasonably be completed at once, potential phases can be considered.
When an existing building is involved, the evaluation can go even deeper. A feasibility study can reveal opportunities that may not have been considered as well as problems that may have been overlooked.
“The way we use a space now is not the same as we did 10 years ago,” explains the principal architect. “When a feasibility study includes the reuse of an existing building, generally there is a lot of space that is underutilized. As architects, we can help the client see the potential in an older building.”
At the same time, existing conditions can be uncovered that may have been deferred or simply gone unnoticed. The roof, caulking, sealants, water penetration and other building components can be evaluated to help an organization understand what it is actually working with before renovation plans are developed.
Better Decisions Can Be Made With Better Information
Major building projects are rarely simple. Decisions made early can influence the project for years, so assumptions should not be allowed to drive the process.
Instead, decisions should be supported by information.
A feasibility study can provide leadership teams, boards and stakeholders with a clearer understanding of what can be accomplished. Potential costs can be discussed earlier. Priorities can be established. Difficult tradeoffs can be identified before they become expensive changes. As a result, the conversation can shift from “Can we make this work?” to “What is the best way to make this work?”
That distinction can be valuable for organizations that are planning for growth, considering a renovation or evaluating a new facility.
Feasibility Studies Can Protect the Larger Project
A feasibility study is not intended to eliminate every unknown. Construction projects will always contain variables that cannot be predicted at the beginning.
However, unnecessary uncertainty can be reduced. When a project is moved directly into design without sufficient early planning, scope changes can become more difficult and costly. Design decisions may need to be revisited. Budgets may need to be adjusted. Priorities may have to be reconsidered. In some cases, an entire concept may need to be changed. By contrast, options can be tested during a feasibility study before those decisions become embedded in construction documents.
For organizations with limited resources, that early evaluation can be especially important. Every dollar spent on a project should be working toward the organization’s long-term goals. It is also important to recognize that a feasibility study is a snapshot in time. Construction costs, building conditions and organizational needs can change, so estimates and recommendations should be revisited as a project moves forward.
The Best Time to Study a Project Is Before It Is Designed
A feasibility study should not be reserved for projects that already have problems. It can be especially valuable when a project is still being defined.
Whether a new facility is being considered, an existing building is being evaluated for renovation or additional space is being explored, early analysis can help determine the right path forward. Sometimes the best solution will be a new building. In other cases, an existing facility may be able to accommodate the organization’s needs through strategic improvements. The answer should be determined by the organization’s goals and the realities of the project rather than by assumptions.
“In my eyes, it would be as soon as an organization is trying to consider a remodel of an existing building or building a new one,” says the principal architect. “This is generally done very early in the thought process and will help direct the Schematic Design phase.”
Starting the conversation early allows the feasibility study to help shape the project rather than simply validate decisions that have already been made.
Start With the Questions Before Starting With the Drawings
Good design begins with good questions.
Before a project is designed, its possibilities should be understood. By investing in a feasibility study early, potential challenges can be identified, options can be compared and resources can be directed toward a solution that makes sense for the organization.
The goal is not simply to determine whether a project can be built. It is to understand what should be built, how it can be accomplished and whether the proposed investment supports the organization’s long-term goals.
At Stone Group Architects, projects are approached with the understanding that successful design starts long before construction begins. If your organization is considering a renovation, expansion, new facility or future capital investment, let’s start by determining what is possible.
Contact Stone Group Architects to discuss your project and explore whether an early feasibility study could help you make a more informed investment.
