PROJECT BRIEFING AND PROCUREMENT
Sound commercial, and practical advice at the inception of projects is essential to ensure that the right problem is being tackled. Too often projects start prematurely and mistakes are made that prove to be detrimental throughout the development of the design. These can be expensive to correct and are often difficult for those involved to admit to.
A thorough analysis of the client brief is the fundamental staring point in solving all architectural problems. The designer who cannot wait for a complete and fully worked out brief is not unlike a tailor who cannot be bothered to measure his customer before cutting the cloth. One of the principal keys to success is the ability to listen, not to start too quickly and to realise that designing is a process where change has to be managed effectively.
A specialisation in the architectural management techniques appropriate to the design process forms a major part of the continuing development of John Eaton and Company. A key focus of interest are the alternative procurement procedures which are available to the modern client. Here, many of the practices current in North America and in particular, value engineering, have been studied and successfully applied.
John Eaton has worked with like-minded professionals in the UK and in the United States to develop expertise in the field of project briefing. This area is central to the success of all projects and if it is properly understood it will lead to solutions which are both appropriate and economical. The key is to do the right things at the right time.