Carol Warkoczewski, AIA, MSOLEOWNER, SYNERGY BUILDERS

Building leaders, teams, projects, and organizations.

the Owner’s Project 

Requirements

To Know Your “Space”…

SO

WHAT’STHE

PROBLEM?

…you Need to Know Your 

RequirementsTo better manage project constraints: 

CostScopeSchedule

PROJECT INFLUENCE & CONTROL

PROJECT COST & SCHEDULE

IMPACT

Pre‐Project Planning  Pre‐Design             Design  Construction 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE:          TO IMPROVE OVERALL

PROJECT DEFINITION

UT System has introduced the Owner’s Project Requirements  (OPR) to its core 

project delivery processes.UT Austin is adopting it as a new best 

practice. 

This document is referred to as the OPR

DETAILS PROJECT’S…NeedsFunctional requirements

INCLUDES PROJECT…GoalsMeasurable performance criteriaSupporting information

IDEAL Project Delivery Process Timeline

Owner’s Project Requirements

Basis of Design

Facility Program

Schematic Design

DDs

CDsWhy? How? etc...

Statement of Need

What?

Project definition is documented and approved by executives

Project needs are assessed to establish a basis for execution

The OPR becomes a   basic project execution reference & briefing document

The project team provides assistance, guidance, review & support throughout the project

ASHRAE Guidelines

The University of Wisconsin ‐Madison Department of Engineering, Professional Development

Charles Dorgan, PE, PhD, CxAP

OPR DESIGNWASINITIALLY

CRAFTED FROM

Resolved lingering scope  definition issues

Identified unknown key stakeholders & issues

Technical stakeholders became    more vested in the project

Emergence of institutional standards

End usersExecutives

Institutional plannersGoverning board

Maintenance staffNeighboring constituents

Occupants Technical staff

etc…

1. Acoustical, Structural, and Vibration2. Adaptability for Future Changes or 

Expansion3. Aesthetics, Quality of Materials, and 

Historically Significant Interior Spaces4. Commissioning Process, Scope, and 

Training Requirements5. Community or Other Stakeholder 

Requirements 6. Constructability, Construction 

Considerations, and Schedules7. Energy Efficiency, Environmental 

Sustainability Goals, and Benchmarking8. Equipment (including HVAC and 

Elevators) and System Maintainability9. Fire Safety and Life Safety10. Health, Hygiene, Indoor Environment, 

and Environmental Health and Safety

11. Landscaping and Exterior Design 12. Occupant Spatial Requirements13. Operations & Maintenance, 

Tolerances, Waste, and Warranties 

14. Other Codes, Standards, and Accessibility

15. Security16. Telecommunications, IT, and 

Audio/visual (A/V)17. Utilities and Building 

Infrastructure (Electrical and Plumbing)

18. Project Prioritization19. Project Schedule, Budget, and 

Funding20. Project Limitations, Challenges, 

or Issues 

Next…Essential Ingredients:• All together, around a table• Document  what’s and why’s• Facilitated• Four‐hour sessions (2‐4) • Inclusive• Process for no‐consensus items

Revisions may be necessary

Keep revisions to a minimum (think Strategic Plan)Use a formal change approval process

Primary reasons for revisions

Assumptions / constraints are invalidated or changeRequirements cannot be metProject scope changes

Eleanor Roosevelt

Carol Warkoczewski, AIA, MSOLEOwner, Synergy Builders

Austin, Texascarol@SynergyBuilders.com

(512) 263‐5521