What is a “Program”?

An Architectural Program is a guideline document used by the Design Team to produce design documents for a specific building, and describes “what is to be built.” When a Needs Analysis is performed, a Program is typically one of the outcomes. In appropriate cases, Griffin is asked to produce a Program, or to review an existing Program, without undertaking a larger needs assessment process.

The Program is prepared mainly for the Design Team as a guideline, giving essential information about the facility. For example, the Program identifies each room and area, the workstations and equipment to be accommodated, area relationships and adjacency requirements, and needs for special floor loading levels, lighting, HVAC, plumbing, power, and the like. It also addresses needs for security, movement control, special design considerations, and other factors of design which are driven by the functions to be housed and their operational needs. The Program might also include site planning information, parking analysis, proposed use of existing support buildings, and issues of programmatic context, usage, relationships, proximities, and the like.

Griffin’s Approach

The purpose of the Program is to move a project forward, for example by giving a clearer understanding of what is to be included in a facility, to prepare preliminary “program level” cost estimates, to engage an architect or design team, or to provide a selected architect with practical and functional constraints and opportunities for the design of a facility. We are very practical minded: our aim is to provide the necessary information quickly and appropriately. Our goal is to provide our clients with the essential elements of facilities planning in a timely and usable manner, and to assist with a decision making process that leads to the right facilities at the best cost.