Engineering Fundamentals: An Introduction to Engineering, 4th ed.c

50 Chapter 3 Introduction to Engineering Design

In private sector, the need is usually determined by the owner of a business or real estate.

On the other hand, in public sector, the need is usually identified by others, such as a school

principal, a city engineer, or a district engineer. Moreover, the need must be approved by a

corresponding oversight body, such as a school board, city council, or the department of trans-

portation and state legislatures.

Step 2: Define the Usage of the Building

Before any design work is done, the person (client) who has identified the need for a building

determines the types of activities that would take place in the building. For example, in the case

of a new elementary school, the principal forecasts the number of students expected to enroll in

the near future. The enrollment projection data then allows the principal to determine the num-

ber of classrooms, and computer labs, and the need for a library or a cafeteria. For a medical

clinic, other activities are considered such as the number of examination rooms, x-ray labs, recep-

tion areas, record rooms, and so on. The usage and activity data will help the architect determine

the amount of area (square footage) needed to accommodate the client’s projected need.

Step 3: Project Planning

During this stage, the person who has requested the project (the client) selects potential sites

for the new building. In addition to the cost and whether the location is ideal for the proposed

building, other factors are considered. These factors include zoning, environmental impact,

archaeology impact, and traffic flow. Although detail study or design is not necessary at this

stage, it is important for the client to recognize all the factors that would affect the project cost

and feasibility. For example, if the potential site is zoned as residential, it would be extremely

Engineers must take many

factors into account when

completing the project plan.

Source:Courtesy of

DOE /NREL

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