Design reviews in the model

Design reviews happen on every project: the client, the fire engineer, the contractor, the operator, all looking at the design at a stage gate. In a model they can see far more than on drawings. But a review is only as good as what happens to its comments afterwards.

Story · Forty comments, three answeredtold by Nadia, architect and design lead

How it goes wrong

A stage 3 review walks through the model for two hours with eight people. Forty comments are made; the minutes list "stairs, plant access, door widths discussed". Four weeks later, three have been looked at. At stage 4 the same comments come back, more expensive.

How it goes right

The review has one purpose: maintenance access. The facilities manager and the mechanical engineer are invited. Each comment is saved as a BCF issue with a viewpoint, an owner and a due date. The next model is checked against the list; 37 are closed, three are carried to the next review with a reason.

A review in four steps

1. Purpose: one question per review (fire, access, maintenance, cost, buildability).
2. People: those who can judge it, including the operator and the contractor where they're appointed.
3. Capture: each comment as an issue with a viewpoint, owner, due date and status.
4. Close: check the next shared model against the list.

Nadiaarchitect and design lead

Your turn. Give it about 10 min and work it out on your own before you open the model answer: that is where it sticks.