This is probably the most basic of fundamental questions, “who should be on the design team?”.

I’m gonna make some suggestions

1) the client
2) the designer
3) a building physicist - they could be a consultant
4) an engineer
5) an energy assessor
6) a QS ?


? Crack on then ……

Well, I had:
1) the client - me
2) the designer - an architect or two
3) a building physicist - they could be a consultant - that was probably me
4) an engineer - we had several, at least three directly employed and more at suppliers
5) an energy assessor - I'd prefer to change the law so a PH cert was sufficient instead
6) a QS ? - me again?

A lot of it was me, so wasn't too expensive.

1) the client - me
2) the designer - me
3) a building physicist - they could be a consultant - me, TF company and foundation company
4) an engineer - TF company SE
5) an energy assessor - me and SAP assessor
6) a QS ? - me

No one providing that fresh outside-viewpoint though.

Some are looking for fresh outside ideas, some say they are but actually they (or one member of the 'client team') don't want their boat rocked, some definitely aren't. I have to suss that out very early on, with clients.

Building control are never on the design team, they would approve the plans at a later stage though.

Re planning, I absolutely love it that you put them lower down the list than the technical people. I never ask for planning advice from LA as that removes the determination deadline.

I don’t like trying to design or build in eco features like insulation into plans that haven’t accounted for it/them at the planning stage.

That is a good call! Generally it is accepted that building control fulfil that role but there have been lapses mainly during construction

I feel the original question, “who should be on the design team?”, might best be answered with a RACI matrix or flow chart, as all the roles are option or dependant on circumstances, with the sole exception of the designer.

This is just my take of things in England, would be happy for others to add to or change it. It might be most useful to very new members.

Someone (a named person or organisation) should be accountable for and have the knowledge at the required/desired level of expertise for:

- Client - chooses the the designer and gives them the brief
Could leave it there, but possibly needed throughout not just at start, clerk of works, owner etc -
if you are new to this, then lots of decisions will appear from nowhere, which you either leave to your designer or get involved with - the amount of designs can be overwhelming. If you are not new then you will know how much "design" you want at the start, or on the fly.

- Designer / Architect / Technician - Overall design - the role accountable for meeting the client's brief / requirements

- Legal obligations - planning, building regs, historic, listed status etc etc some must know what the law requires and get approval for it - when you get that approval depends on the experience of the designer, how much risk you want to live with and the roles you choose to fill beyond the designer.

- User / occupier (often the client for domestic, but unlikely many others) - could be many people, but if you want an award winning library, talk to librarians etc

- Building physicist - was M&E or HVAC engineer when I started, but guess this has progressed a bit more now. Will cover heating, ventilation, air conditioning, condensation etc solar gain? lighting? Radon?

- (Structural) Engineer - make sure it stands up - if simple, standard materials, this is could be a set of tables, the designer has access to? but for most buildings someone to present robust calculations to prove to others the choice of materials and intended use is safe.
May need a specialist ground works engineer.
May need to work with water levels (flood risk)
May need to prevent damage to tree roots

- Energy assessor - how much energy will be use during it's intended use over time, possibly embedded in the materials, or method to construct (concrete v limecrete, gas v solar, hydro, heat pumps, solar gain etc
does this one do air tightness testing too?

- budget/cost management - a QS also maybe an estimator at start

- Builder - critical if using new materials, methods, or want it build very quickly or cheaply (I think this role is missed too often during design)

- Fire safety - ideally part of the other roles - but history says you are better having a single accountable person/company (Grenfell)

- water safety - if providing your own water

- interior designer

Missed the airtightness champion.

And no, the airtightness tester is separate from the energy assessor.

A lot of what is assigned to the energy assessor needs to be done by the architect.