Feasibility Studies (an Architect’s Guide)

Want to understand the process, benefits and pitfalls of a feasibility study? Learn how to add value as an architect with this practical guide.

Find that you’re spending much longer than planned on a feasibility study? Or that you have drifted into detailed design without formalising an appropriate form of appointment?

This practical guide details the benefits of a feasibility study. Once you’ve secured the commission, how do you ensure you’re following current best practice?

Aimed at architects, it identifies the pitfalls involved in undertaking a feasibility study and explains how to set boundaries, organise the process and manage clients’ aspirations.

By featuring recent live projects, alongside advice from successful architectural practices, it illustrates how a feasibility study can help achieve positive outcomes and avoid the dangers of a poorly defined brief and service proposal.

Presenting the client’s, as well as the architect’s, perspective, this publication highlights why a feasibility study is a sensible way of establishing viability prior to committing to a full-service commission. It underlines the significance of ‘adding value’ as an architect.

Introduction

Chapter 1: The RIBA Plan of Work

Case Study 1: Church reordering

Chapter 2: The Client’s perspective

Case Study 2: House extension

Chapter 3: Selling the service – the Architects view

Case Study 3: Community hall

Chapter 4: Fees and appointment

Case Study 4: Rowing centre

Chapter 5: Managing the process

Case Study 5: Research laboratories

Chapter 6: Communications and stakeholders

Case Study 6: Emergency services centre

Chapter 7: Gathering and assimilating data

Case Study 7: Reuse of heritage building

Chapter 8: Developing the client’s brief

Case Study 8: House on garden plot

Chapter 9: Option appraisals

Case Study 9: Classroom wing

Chapter 10: Monitoring and reporting back

Case Study 10: Office development

Chapter 11: The next stage

Case Study 11: Affordable housing

Summary

Peter Farrall (BA, Dip Arch, RIBA) is a senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool, where he is responsible for professional studies and a studio tutor on the BA and MArch courses. Prior to his current position, he was a Partner of a small multidisciplinary practice in Chester, specialising in the education and public sectors, as well as charity and community projects. He has also worked for two large practices dealing with commercial and residential projects. He is Past President of the Liverpool Architectural Society, served on the National Council and Conduct Committee of the RIBA, and acts as an examiner for the RIBA Part 3 in the UK and abroad. He delivers lectures for RIBA Part 3 and CPD programs.