Facilities Design, sometimes known as Facilities Planning and Facilities Engineering, is the process of developing and implementing a design for a building or other facility that meets requirements involving budget, schedule, user needs and environmental considerations.

Facilities Design professionals seek to help Facilities Managers of buildings improve their building’s appearance and functionality. Facilities Management Specialists might only be involved in the design and construction process of a project, or they might spearhead all phases from pre-design through post-occupancy.

Significance of Facilities Management in Building design

Facilities Management is essential for any organization that requires more than simply occupying space – it involves all the activities and projects that ensure a building, business or campus is properly outfitted and maintained. Facilities Management can consist of anything from workplace design to security systems to pest control. Facilities Management Experts are responsible for ensuring their facilities are not only aesthetically pleasing color but also functional and secure.

Facilities Management Experts are invaluable members of Facilities Design teams, helping to ensure any building they are involved in is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Facilities Management is essential for any organization that requires more than simply occupying space – it involves all the activities and projects that ensure a building, business or campus is properly outfitted and maintained Facilities Management can consist of anything from workplace design to security systems to pest control.

Facilities Design takes into consideration many factors related to individual users, such as follows:

• age and ethnic background
• lighting
• acoustics
• colour
• texture
• visual cues

Facilities Design can also be applied to whole organizations or even cities, such as town planning and its influence on the built environment and human behavior.

Facilities Management Experts can help ensure that facilities work well for their users, employees and occupants. Facilities Management should always consider the first phase of a project: pre-design. Facilities Design should also consider the usability and functionality of a building, as well as its aesthetic value.

Facilities Management can bring art to architecture and improve not only how the surroundings look but the people who use them. Facilities Management is all about creating spaces that work: spaces that contribute to productivity and well-being and enable users to work smoothly and efficiently.

Facilities Management can mean arranging furniture; designing space; implementing equipment; and ensuring that everything is in its proper place for maximum functionality. Facilities Management should also take into consideration every aspect of the building’s surroundings, from climate control to lighting design to signage.

Facilities Management can be integral in ensuring that a building is compliant with regulations, codes and standards. Facilities Management should also consider the experience of each individual user. Facilities Management ensures that design elements are practical, communicative, efficient, safe, appropriate to the location and without unnecessary frills or distractions.

Facilities Design professionals should be involved in all phases of a project, from pre-design through post-occupancy: Facilities Management is integral to the design and construction process 

Facilities Management should also take into consideration every aspect of the building’s surroundings, from climate control to lighting design.

The Facility Manager should be involved in the development of Facilities Design to ensure that this process considers all relevant FM concerns such as:

• The Facilities Design will determine the amount of space required for a project. Facilities Managers should ensure that they have been involved in this process to understand requirements and that the Facilities Design team has considered alternative solutions to minimize the amount of space used.
• Facilities Management concerns such as maintenance, operation and renovation schedules may be overlooked when Facilities Design does not take these into consideration from the outset or Facilities Design is conducted by Facilities Management personnel]. In order to avoid ‘surprises’ later in the Facilities Design process, Facilities Managers should ensure that Facilities Design has considered these factors from the beginning of a project.
• Facilities Design will determine any technologies that need to be integrated into a building or facility. Facilities Managers should have been involved in this process so they can identify potential FM concerns. In order to avoid delays later in the Facilities Design process, Facilities Managers should ensure that Facilities Design has considered all relevant FM concerns from the outset.
• Facilities Management must be involved early enough in Facilities Design to provide input into design parameters that are critical for FM needs. Facilities Managers should ensure they have been involved in Facilities Design early enough for Facilities Management concerns and requirements to be considered and approved by Facilities Management.
• Facilities Design may lead Facilities Managers to adopt Facilities Design standards that do not align with the organization’s enterprise standards, FM software or other technology tools. Facilities Managers should ensure that all Facilities Design standards are congruent with existing enterprise standards, FM software and other technology tools.